The Patriotic Order of Merit (German: ''Vaterländischer Verdienstorden'', or VVO) was a national award granted annually in 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). 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, and ultranationalist political ideology and movement. It is characterized by a dictatorial leader, centralized autocracy, militarism, forcible suppression of opposition, belief in a natural social hie ...

," * "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 DDR
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.

Notable recipients

Vasily Chuikov Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov (, ; – 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 heavy combat during the Battle of Stalingrad in the Second World War ...

Marshal of the Soviet Union Marshal of the Soviet Union (, ) was the second-highest military rank of the Soviet Union. Joseph Stalin wore the uniform and insignia of Marshal after World War II. The rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union was created in 1935 and abolished in ...

Berta Daniel Berta Daniel (born Berta Dick: 20 November 1896 – 7 April 1981) was a German photographer and political activist ( KPD). During the 1920s and 1930s, she worked for the illegal News Service of the Communist Party in Germany and for the Cominte ...

Vinzent Porombka Vinzent Porombka (2 January 1910 – 28 November 1975) was a German Communist political activist who became a party official, a member of the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War, and an active participant in resistance to Nazism. In ...

, 1955 *

Paula Hertwig Paula Julie Elisabeth Hertwig (11 October 1889 – 31 March 1983) was a German biologist and politician. Her research focused on radiation health effects. Hertwig was the first woman to habilitate at the then Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Berl ...

, 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 that "she is remembered mos ...

, 1984 (Gold) and 1988 (gold honor clasp) *

Klaus Fuchs Klaus Emil Julius Fuchs (29 December 1911 – 28 January 1988) was a German theoretical physicist and atomic spy who supplied information from the American, British, and Canadian Manhattan Project to the Soviet Union during and shortly a ...

References

External links

*{{Commonscat inline, Patriotic Order of Merit Orders, decorations, and medals of East Germany Awards established in 1954 1954 establishments in East Germany

Classes

The award

Notable recipients

See also

References

External links