East German Interior Ministry Silver Merit Medal with Ribbon
This is an authentic East German Interior Ministry Silver Merit Medal, the silver-grade Verdienstmedaille der Organe des Ministeriums des Innern instituted in 1966 by the DDR. Awarded to members of the Volkspolizei, Border Troops, and other armed organs of the Ministry of the Interior for meritorious service and dedication to public security, it represents one of three grades alongside bronze and gold. The medal comes complete with its original pentagonal suspension ribbon in Interior Ministry colors. A genuine piece of Cold War East German militaria for collectors of DDR awards, Eastern Bloc decorations, and Iron Curtain history.
In stock
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- SKU
- S19457020
- Material
- Steel
- Style
- Military, Vintage
$6.95
Description
Features
- Authentic DDR Award — Original East German state decoration issued by the Ministerium des Innern (Ministry of the Interior) during the Cold War era.
- Silver Grade — Middle tier of the three-class Verdienstmedaille der Organe des Ministeriums des Innern, ranking above bronze and below gold.
- Established 1966 — Instituted on June 15, 1966 to recognize meritorious service and personal commitment within the armed organs of the Interior Ministry.
- Issued To Interior Ministry Personnel — Awarded to members of the Volkspolizei, Border Troops, fire service, and other MdI organs for contributions to public order and security.
- Obverse Design — Features the DDR state emblem of hammer, compass, and wheat wreath above the inscription identifying the awarding ministry.
- Suspension Ribbon Included — Comes with the original pentagonal ribbon mount in the medal's distinctive Interior Ministry colors, ready for display.
- Tombak Construction — Struck in tombak alloy with a silver-toned finish, matching the standard MdI silver-grade specification.
- Pin-Back Mount — Traditional pentagonal cloth-covered suspension with reverse pin for uniform wear or display board mounting.
- Cold War Collectible — A sought-after piece of East German militaria for collectors of DDR, Stasi-era, and Eastern Bloc decorations.
- Made In East Germany — Manufactured in the GDR for official state issue prior to German reunification in 1990.
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Customer Reviews
Top customer reviews
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Pretty darn coolI just started getting into Cold War militaria after going down a Wikipedia rabbit hole about East Germany and honestly had no idea where to even start. I compared a few options there are tons of these on eBay but honestly the listings are all over the place and it's hard to tell what's legit vs a reproduction. This one from Keep Shooting had a clearer description and felt more trustworthy as a first buy. When it arrived I was surprised by how substantial it feels, like it's not flimsy at all. The silver finish has some age to it which I think is normal? There's also a slight smell when you first open it, kind of like an old book, which I've now read online is totally typical for medals stored in European collections for decades. Would love if the listing addressed that. Overall really happy with it as a starter piece and i'll definitely be buying more.
Good alternative to sketchy eBay listings
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Genuine Silver ClassBeen collecting DDR militaria for about 12 years now and this is legit the cleanest Silver Merit Medal I've picked up in awhile. Keep Shooting sources these properly, unlike some of the sketchy Eastern European dealers on eBay where you roll the dice on whether youre getting a reproduction. The silver finish is still bright, no verdigris or weird storage tarnish that you sometimes see on these. Ribbon is original and intact, not frayed at the edges like my bronze class from another seller. The reverse has the proper MdI marking (Ministry of Interior) and the ring attachment is correct for this series. If youre building a full set of the three classes - gold, silver, bronze - this is the middle tier and honestly the hardest to find in good shape. Shipped fast, well packaged in bubble wrap. For the price, cant complain at all.
Authentic MdI marking confirmed,Clean silver finish, no tarnish,Original ribbon in excellent condition
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Genuine DDR, excellent enamelSpecialize in GDR awards and this Interior Ministry silver merit is a nice addition. Medal arrived in excellent condition silver finish bright, enamel colors intact, no chips or cracks. The Ministry emblem is crisp, the details sharp. Ribbon is original, correct red and silver pattern for Interior Ministry awards, suspension ring properly attached. The reverse has the typical GDR maker mark, consistent with period production. Mine came in a simple plastic sleeve, no case, which is standard for this level. The Interior Ministry oversaw the VoPo (People's Police) and civil defense, so these medals are more common than MfS awards but still historically significant. For $7 it's fairly priced for genuine DDR. Already looking for the gold version to complete the progression.
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