The Scharnhorst Order ( or ) was the highest medal awarded to members of the

East German East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from its formation on 7 October 1949 until its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on 3 October 1990. Until 1989, it was generally vie ...

National People's Army The National People's Army (, ; NVA ) were the armed forces of the East Germany, German Democratic Republic (DDR) from 1956 until 1990. The NVA was organized into four branches: the (Ground Forces), the (Navy), the (Air Force) and the (Bord ...

(NVA). It was given for services to military or other strengthening of the

German Democratic Republic East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...

(GDR). Established on 17 February 1966 by the Council of Ministers of the GDR, it was awarded until the dissolution of the GDR in 1990.

Scharnhorst history

The medal commemorates the legacy of Gerhard Johann David von Scharnhorst (1755-1813), a soldier in Hanoverian and Prussian service, military theorist, reformer and German patriot. His military achievements included extensive combat experience and military writings wherein he emphasized the importance of the "

General Staff A military staff or general staff (also referred to as army staff, navy staff, or air staff within the individual services) is a group of officers, Enlisted rank, enlisted, and civilian staff who serve the commanding officer, commander of a ...

" and their ability to work and plan war and battle strategy. GDR authorities regarded Scharnhorst as a progressive military theorist and advocate for reforms in the Prussian military system - all foundations on which the National People's Army was based.

Design

Klaus Bernsdorf of Berlin designed the medal. The sculptor Fritz Schulz, also of Berlin, produced the portrait of Scharnhorst that appears on the medal.

Award requirements

The order was given for outstanding: * military services (primarily to generals and admirals) * contributions to the protection of the GDR and * strengthening the national defense of the GDR To members, units, associations and other bodies (including civil facilities): * The

(NVA) on the anniversary of the Army on 1 March of the year. * The Border Troops of the German Democratic Republic (Grenztruppen - GT) on the anniversary of the GT on 1 December of the year. * The Civil Defense of the DDR (ZV) the anniversary of the ZD on 11 February. * The Ministry of State Security (

Stasi The Ministry for State Security (, ; abbreviated MfS), commonly known as the (, an abbreviation of ), was the Intelligence agency, state security service and secret police of East Germany from 1950 to 1990. It was one of the most repressive pol ...

), on the anniversary of the Stasi, 8 February of the year. The Order was also presented to members of other institutions of the GDR who did not necessarily have to be involved in an armed organization. It was also presented to foreign military personnel, for example, to Marshal Viktor Georgiyevich Kulikov of the

Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

. The order was always presented with an elaborately crafted document along with a one-time cash prize of 5,000

Marks Marks may refer to: Business * Mark's, a Canadian retail chain * Marks & Spencer, a British retail chain * Collective trade marks A collective trademark, collective trade mark, or collective mark is a trademark owned by an organization (such ...

Recipients

The medal was first awarded on 1 March 1966. There were two initial recipients of the award, which was presented by

Walter Ulbricht Walter Ernst Paul Ulbricht (; ; 30 June 18931 August 1973) was a German communist politician. Ulbricht played a leading role in the creation of the Weimar republic, Weimar-era Communist Party of Germany (KPD) and later in the early development ...

. They were Army General

Heinz Hoffmann Heinz Hoffmann (28 November 1910 – 2 December 1985) was a German military officer and politician who served as the Ministry of National Defense (East Germany), Minister of National Defense in the Council of Ministers of the East Germany, Germ ...

and Admiral Waldemar Verner. Other recipients are: * General Karl-Heinz Wagner * Army General Heinz Kessler *

Willi Stoph Wilhelm Stoph (9 July 1914 – 13 April 1999) was a German politician. He served as Council of Ministers of East Germany, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) from 1964 to 1973, and again from ...

Erich Mielke Erich Fritz Emil Mielke (; 28 December 1907 – 21 May 2000) was a German communist official who served as head of the East Germany, East German Ministry for State Security (''Ministerium für Staatsicherheit'' – MfS), better known as the Sta ...

* Colonel General Fritz Streletz * Klaus-Dieter Baumgarten * Major-General Leopold Gotthilf * Generaloberst Erich Peter * Ludwig Mecklinger

Production

There are three versions of the Scharnhorst Order: * 1st Version 1966-1972: Produced in 900 gold-plated silver, with 5 rivets on the obverse. * 2nd Version 1973-1980: Produced in gilt non-ferrous metal, held to the medal with a central rivet on the obverse. * 3rd Version 1980-1989: Introduction of a patterned smooth back with no rivets, medallion is glued on. Accurate measurements are difficult because of different versions and use of materials over the years. The sizes, therefore, are based on averages. They were: * Height, including eye: 45.45 mm to 46.37 mm * Width: about 42.5 mm * Total width of the daggers: about 30.2 mm * Weight: 44g to 44.5 g

Wear

The Scharnhorst Order was worn on the left breast suspended from a pentagonal ribbon in the Russian style. This medal could be issued to and worn several times by a single recipient. General Kessler, for example, received (and would wear) three Scharnhorst Orders.

References

* Frank Bartel, ''Auszeichnungen der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik'', Berlin 1979 * ''Auszeichnungen der Nationalen Volksarmee'', Berlin 1994 * ''Orden und Medaillen - Auszeichnungen der DDR'', Leipzig 1983 * Der "Scharnhorst-Orden", ''Militaria-Magazin'', No. 46 1992 * ''Militaria-Magazin'', No. 114, October 2004

Notes

{{reflist Orders, decorations, and medals of East Germany Awards established in 1966 Awards disestablished in 1990 1966 establishments in East Germany 1990 disestablishments in East Germany