GDR East German Medal faithful services -Gold

The Gold Medal for Loyal Service in the Workers' Class Combat Groups was the highest standard level of this state decoration in the GDR.

Unlike the bronze and silver versions, the gold award consisted of two different grades based on the number of years of service:

Variants of the Gold Medal

• Gold (20 years): Awarded for 20 years of loyal service.
• Gold (25 years): Awarded for 25 years of loyal service. This was the highest level of the medal.

Design and features

The design of the medal itself is identical to the bronze version, but executed in gold-colored (gilded) metal.

• Obverse: A right hand holding a rifle with a red workers' flag, surrounded by the text "Für treue Dienste" and laurel branches.
• Reverse: The coat of arms of the GDR. Ribbon: The red pentagonal ribbon has specific features for the gold grades to distinguish them:
• 20 years: The ribbon has three silver-gray vertical center stripes.
• 25 years: The ribbon has a gold border or a specific gold miniature (often a Roman numeral "XXV") on the ribbon or baton to mark the 25-year status.

Like the other grades, this medal was instituted on October 6, 1965, to honor the loyalty of members in the paramilitary "bedrijfskampfgruppen".