East German Army Bronze Combat Medal with Ribbon

East German Combat Medal

This bronze-class award comes from the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the East German state that existed from 1949 to 1990. It hangs from a folded red ribbon with black and gold stripes and comes with its matching ribbon bar. It suits collectors of Cold War and Eastern Bloc militaria, reenactors building a period-correct East German uniform, and anyone putting together a display of GDR awards.

Features

• Bronze Class Award — The round medal has a bronze finish, which marks this as the bronze grade of the award.
• Brandenburg Gate Obverse — The face shows Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, topped by its four-horse chariot sculpture, above two armed figures carrying a flag.
• German Inscription — The raised lettering around the rim reads "Für hervorragende Kampf- und Einsatzbereitschaft," meaning "for outstanding combat and operational readiness."
• Laurel Sprig Detailing — Small laurel branches sit on either side of the rim between the two halves of the inscription.
• Folded Ribbon Mount — The ribbon is folded into the pointed, layered shape used on Eastern Bloc medals rather than hung flat.
• Red, Black And Gold Ribbon — A red ribbed ribbon carries a black stripe and a gold stripe, the colors of the German national flag.
• Matching Ribbon Bar — A short ribbon bar in the same pattern is included, for wear on the uniform when the full medal is not displayed.
• Suspension Ring — A small loop and ring join the top of the medal to the ribbon.

Design and Inscription

The Brandenburg Gate stood on the border between East and West Berlin, and the GDR used it often as a state symbol, which is why it appears on this award. The design pairs it with figures under arms and a wording that honors readiness for combat and deployment. Issued East German awards like this one are sought after because the state that made them no longer exists, and a medal with both ribbon and ribbon bar makes a complete set for a uniform or display case.