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The Patriotic Order of Merit (German: ''Vaterländischer Verdienstorden'', or VVO) was a national award granted annually in the
Honor clasp, in Gold
* 
Gold, 1st class
* 
Silver, 2nd class
* 
Bronze, 3rd class
The official language for the award stipulated it was given "for outstanding merit":
* "in the struggle of the German and international labor movement and in the fight against
Die DDR in WWW. Retrieved December 3, 2011 The order was awarded in bronze, silver, gold and gold honor clasp () (for exceptional merit). Each level was only awarded once and with the exception of the recipient of the honor clasp, all recipients received a sum of money.
German Democratic Republic
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ger ...
(GDR). It was founded in 1954 and was awarded to individuals and institutions for outstanding contributions to the state and society in various areas of life.
Classes
* Honor clasp, in Gold
* Gold, 1st class
* Silver, 2nd class
* Bronze, 3rd class
The award
The official language for the award stipulated it was given "for outstanding merit":
* "in the struggle of the German and international labor movement and in the fight against fascism
Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian, ultra-nationalist political ideology and movement,: "extreme militaristic nationalism, contempt for electoral democracy and political and cultural liberalism, a belief in natural social hierarchy an ...
,"
* "in the establishment, consolidation and fortification of the German Democratic Republic,"
* "in the fight to secure peace and advance the international influence of the German Democratic Republic".Auszeichnungen in der DDRDie DDR in WWW. Retrieved December 3, 2011 The order was awarded in bronze, silver, gold and gold honor clasp () (for exceptional merit). Each level was only awarded once and with the exception of the recipient of the honor clasp, all recipients received a sum of money.
Notable recipients
*Vasily Chuikov
Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov (russian: link=no, Васи́лий Ива́нович Чуйко́в; ; – 18 March 1982) was a Soviet military commander and Marshal of the Soviet Union. He is best known for commanding the 62nd Army which saw h ...
, Marshal of the Soviet Union
Marshal of the Soviet Union (russian: Маршал Советского Союза, Marshal sovetskogo soyuza, ) was the highest military rank of the Soviet Union.
The rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union was created in 1935 and abolished in 19 ...
* Paula Hertwig, 1956
* Klaus Köste
Klaus Köste (27 February 1943 – 14 December 2012) was a German gymnast. He won a gold medal in the vault at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. He competed for East Germany and won bronze medals in the team all-around event in three Olympics, ...
, 1972
* Katarina Witt
Katarina Witt (, ; born 3 December 1965) is a German former figure skater. A two-time Olympic champion, Witt is regarded as one of the greatest ladies' singles figure skaters of all time. Her Laureus profile states "she is remembered most for ...
, 1984 (Gold) and 1988 (gold honor clasp)
* Klaus Fuchs
See also
*Orders, decorations, and medals of East Germany
Following the 1949 establishment of the German Democratic Republic (GDR) the new state prohibited the wearing of all pre-1945 German decorations and created a new system of awards inspired in part by those of the USSR.
After German reunification ...
References
{{Commonscat, Patriotic Order of Merit Orders, decorations, and medals of East Germany Awards established in 1954 1954 establishments in East Germany