East German Interior Ministry Gold 15-Year Service Medal with Ribbon

GDR Faithful Service Medal

This is the gold 15-year grade of the long-service medal awarded by East Germany's Ministry of the Interior, the ministry that ran the Volkspolizei (People's Police). It comes with its folded ribbon mount and a matching ribbon bar. Collectors of GDR and Cold War awards, reenactors building a period uniform, and anyone interested in the history of a divided Germany will want it.

Features

• Gold 15-Year Grade — The gold finish identifies this as the award for fifteen years of faithful service.
• Für Treue Dienste Obverse — Raised lettering reading "for faithful service" circles a small shield bearing the GDR state emblem, set over a pointed star burst and wreath.
• GDR State Emblem Reverse — The back carries the hammer and compass inside a wheat wreath, the national emblem of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).
• Steel Construction — The medal is struck in steel with a gold-tone finish over the relief detail.
• Folded Ribbon Mount — Pale green ribbon with yellow stripes is folded into the trapezoid shape typical of GDR awards and fitted with a pin back for wear on the tunic.
• Matching Ribbon Bar — A short bar in the same ribbon has its own pin, so it can be worn on everyday uniform in place of the full medal.
• Ring Suspension — The medal hangs from a small ring and loop at the base of the ribbon mount.
• Authentic GDR Award — This is an original government-issued decoration from the East German state.

Provenance And Design

The Ministry of the Interior awarded this medal to personnel who reached set milestones of service, with the gold grade marking fifteen years. Its design follows GDR state award practice: a national-emblem reverse, a dedication on the obverse and the folded ribbon mount used across East German decorations. The set of medal plus ribbon bar is what a recipient would have worn, which makes it a complete example for a display or uniform.