DDR Friendship Star orders

[redjames2004]

Hi, I saw a eBay auction for a fake DDR Friendship in Gold or Bronze recently. Gordon Craig posted this eBay link for that particular DDR high-ranking order in another DDR forum on Gunboards. board. Anyway, I am wondering about any members of this forum owning any real DDR Friendship Star orders. I would like to see pictures of the geunine DDR order I mentioned in this thread. I once saw a real original DDR Friendship Star in silver with original Urkunde that was awarded to a East German woman for over $700 on Sigmund Stephan's table at MAX show in Pittsburgh few years ago. Its pretty steep for me. I saw that in Stephan's display case. Nice example I ever saw! Also I would like to know how much scarce are this DDR Order of Friendship Star. I dont see any geunine example for sale on both US and German eBay very often. Any comments on this particular thread? Thanks,James

[Mike G.]

Hi James,

This medal was authorized Aug 20, 1959 and subsequently produced in three levels. Two gold and one silver. A bronze variant or level was never produced.

1st Level: Gold. Great Star of People's Friendship. Issued with a ribbon so it could be worn around the neck.

2nd Level: Gold. Star of People's Friendship. Pin back version.

3rd Level: Silver. Star of People's Friendship. Pin back version.

Here is an example of the 3rd Level Pinback type.

[Mike G.]

Closeup Front:

[Mike G.]

Closeup Reverse:

[Mike G.]

James,

When looking to purchase one of these relatively costly medals, you want to first look for signs that it has not been "Sand Cast", and then look to detail. You want to insure the wheat stalk wreath is very well defined, and you want to insure there is detail in the wing and tail of the dove that appears at the top of the medal.

[redjames2004]

Hey Mike,Thanks alot for these scans of this DDR Star of People's Friendship order!!!! I am glad that you provided valuable information on this such costly DDR high-end order. Even the close-up of this order was even helpful! Do you own this cased silver Star of DDR People's Friendship? Do you get this such high-end DDR order directly from Germany? I know that Order of Karl Marx cost much as this Friendship Star order. I considered the Order of Karl Marx medal as East Germany's answer to USSR's Order of Lenin. Once again, thanks for helping me understand about this DDR Star of People's Friendship! I am planning to save money for buying high-end DDR medals and orders. James

[Chuck D.]

Gentlemen,

Interesting thread . . . Any idea how many of these were given out over the years? I'm also wondering what the percentages of civilian vs. military recipients were, and if someone could give an example of what "promoting peace" would be? (Maybe working on a treaty/agreement with fellow Warsaw Pact countries or something like that?)

Chuck

[Mike G.]

Hi Chuck,

Regarding "Promoting Peace" and given the fact there were many "Military" receipients, (and I don't mean this to be funny); I suspect the award could be given for something as bizarre as being the guy to coordinate delivery, receipt and security of the Soviet Nuclear Warheads that were delivered to East Germany during the Cold War. In a twisted way this could be looked upon as a sort of deterrent thereby promoting peace. So the senior Military East German Officers involved in something like that as strange as it sounds, could I suppose be eligible for the award. Does that make sense in the context of how things were done during the Cold War? This is just a summation on my part.

[Chuck D.]

Originally Posted by Michael D. Gallagher

Hi Chuck,

Regarding "Promoting Peace" and given the fact there were many "Military" receipients, (and I don't mean this to be funny); I suspect the award could be given for something as bizarre as being the guy to coordinate delivery, receipt and security of the Soviet Nuclear Warheads that were delivered to East Germany during the Cold War. In a twisted way this could be looked upon as a sort of deterrent thereby promoting peace. So the senior Military East German Officers involved in something like that as strange as it sounds, could I suppose be eligible for the award. Does that make sense in the context of how things were done during the Cold War? This is just a summation on my part.

Hi Mike,

The fact that this award was given for "promoting Peace" and sometimes awarded to the military, had me trying to think of a proper scenario. Your reply makes perfect sense in the context of the strange Cold War rhetoric, and what I guess could be called "ComBloc Speak". Thanks!

Chuck

[Thälmannpionier]

Hi

Here some Facts about the "Stern der Völkerfreundschaft"(Order of the Star of Friendship of Nations )

founded in august 1959

There are 3 grades of the Stern :

1. grade "Grosser Stern der Völkerfreundschatf"(Grand Star)
2. grade "Stern der Völkerfreundschatf in gold"
3. grade "Stern der Völkerfreundschatf in silver"
the 1. and 2.grade Star were made of gold and the 3.grade was made of silver until 1973,from 1973 just golded or silvered bronze

Diameter of the 1.grade Star is 74mm and Interimspange 35mm width
Diameter of the 2.&3.grade is 55mm and Interimspange 24mm width

This award was given to Individuals and social organizations also to foreign sozialism countries.(same class was only awarded to the person or organisation once)

awarded for:
"Appreciation of extraordinary earnings/services to the German Democratic Republic, over the communication and the friendship of the peoples and foreign countries and for the preservation of peace between them"
worn: on the left breast pocket for the 2. and 3.grade or the 1.grade (Grand Star) could be worn with a shoulder ribbon from the right shoulder to the left hip.
here some awarded persons from the DDR

1964: Manfred Gerlach
1967: Hermann Matern
1968: Lothar Bolz
1969: Ernst Goldenbaum
1970: Franz Dahlem, Paul Wandel
1974: Albert Norden
1977: Franz Dahlem, Karl Mewis, Erwin Kramer
1978: Willy Rumpf, Kurt Seibt
1979: Albert Norden
1982: Hilde Benjamin
1983: Kurt Seibt
1984: Wolfgang Junker
1985: Peter Florin, Alfred Lemmnitz
1986: Eberhard Heinrich
1987: Klaus Gysi
1988: Paula Acker, Lotte Ulbricht

I think there was just a handful more persons awarded with the Star.
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"Seid bereit,immer bereit"

[esquiroz]

Well
I was only asking for that. I believe you and I am trying to get the money back from the seller. I have sent him already an email and wait for his answer. I hope I will get my money back as it was, as you know, not a speciall cheap item(as it seems to be a copy)

Tahnk you for your advice
Carlos