NVA Academy Badges

Absolventenabzeichen der NVA

~ NVA Academy Badges ~

Officers who graduated from the Friedrich Engels or other NVA specialized academies were expected to wear the appropriate academy badge on their tunic. Similarly, East German generals, admirals and selected senior officers who received specialized training in the USSR were entitled to wear the appropriate Soviet academy badge. (Link to Soviet Academy Badges)

NVA Career Officer Academy Badge,

1987-1990: Officer School Graduates

Worn above the right breast pocket of the uniform (see above). Graduation badge for having got a university (honours) degree at a military officer college or a civilian university between 1987 and 1989. Earned by all graduates from the officer colleges for the Army, the Navy, the Border Guards and the Air Force.

Absolventenabzeichen einer Offiziershochschule oder für Offiziere an einer Universität oder Hochschule der DDR -

Graduate badge of an officer college or for officers at a university or college of the GDR

This graduate badge was first awarded in 1987 for degrees of students at military universities of the DDR. It was associated with the award of an academic degree. With the appointment as a lieutenant, officers received the graduate badge specially donated for this purpose. It was awarded to graduates:

Officer schools of the GDR

Institute of Civil Defense

Civil colleges and universities of the GDR

The badge has the shape of an isosceles triangle on the top, 41 mm high and 31 mm wide. In this triangle another triangle is embedded, which in this case is designed purely white and shows in its upper half the integrated golden coat of arms of the NVA. The inner triangle and the outer triangle are framed in gold. The gap is red.

Offiziere mit Ausbildungsdiplom oder Facharztausbildung an militärischen Hochschuleinrichtungen und Hochschulen der DDR -

Officers with a training diploma or specialist training at military higher education institutions and universities of the DDR

This graduate badge was for officers who have completed their education with a diploma or a specialist training in military higher education institutions, and would receive the specially created graduate badge. This badge was first awarded in 1987, the awards then continued until 1990.

The award ceremony took place at graduates of the Military Medical Academy, the Military History Institute of the DDR, the Military Transport and Communications Department at Friedrich List University of Applied Sciences and the civil universities and colleges of the DDR.

The badge has the shape of an isosceles triangle on the top, 41 mm high and 31 mm wide. In this triangle is another triangle embedded, that in this case red is designed and in its upper half shows the integrated golden coat of arms of the NVA. The inner triangle and the outer triangle are framed in gold. The space is pure white.

NVA "Friedrich Engels" Academy Badge,

1975-1986 (version 1) and 1986-1990 (version 2)

The Engels Academy was East Germanys premium school for training future leaders of its armed forces. Attendance at the school was essential for officers who wanted to rise to command positions in the NVA. The diamond-shaped badge is red with white trim, and features Friedrich Engels image on the circular gold center piece. The letters "NVA" distinguishes the earlier version of the badge from the newer 1986 - 90 varient.

Friedrich Engels Military Academy was founded in 1959 as the "first socialist military academy in the history of our people" and responsible for training the senior officers of all branches of the NVA. This Dresden-based Academy is divided into five departments:

Land Forces including Reserves (LANDSTREITKRÄFTE)

Air Force / Air Defence (LUFTSTREITKRÄFTE / LUFTVERTEIDIGUNG)

Navy (VOLKSMARINE)

Border Guards (GRENZTRUPPEN)

Engineering

These departments focused on twelve programs:

-operational arts and tactics

-operational research

-artillery and rockets

-conduct of political work

-troop command

-mechanization and automation of troop command

-armor and vehicle technology

-project planning, control systems and computers

-cybernetics

-teaching military theory and psychology

-military sociology

-military theory and doctrine

The period of study was three years for Direkstudium and four in the Diplom-ingenieur program. Study was non-continuous and interrupted by troop command assignments. Approximately 240 graduates received degrees each year and promotion to the lieutenant-colonel rank upon graduation. With further experience, some graduates are eligible to apply for doctorates or professorships. The Friedrich Engels Military Academy also performed a scientific research function within the NVA. The Academy strove to adapt the "world-leading" standards of military theory of the Soviet Army and Soviet military science in adapting them to the conditions of modern combat and troop command within a unified framework of teaching, research and degree studies.

NVA Friedrich Engels Academy Badge, 1975-1986

NVA Friedrich Engels Academy Badge

(note deleted NVA), 1987-1990

Absolventenabzeichen des Ministeriums

für Abrüstungund Verteidigung -

Academy Badge of the Ministry of Disarmament and Defense, 1990

The Ministry of Disarmament and Defense of the DDR (short form MfAuV) was the name of a ministry of the German Democratic Republic in the period shortly after the turn until German reunification in 1990. The MfAuV was the successor organization of the former Ministry of National Defense (MfNV ) of the DDR and existed from the spring of 1990 until its dissolution in the course of reunification on October 3, 1990. It was based in the Struzberg barracks in Strausberg near Berlin and was, like its predecessor, responsible for the leadership and administration of the National People's Army. The only minister was Rainer Eppelmann from 12 April 1990 to 2 October 1990.

This badge was intended for graduates of officer training schools and various specialized military training programs during the period in 1990 when the NVA was in the process of being disbanded. By some estimates, only 400 of the badges were made; whether any were actually awarded is uncertain. The badge is already rare and destined to become much more so in the future. The diamond-shaped badge is red with white trim, and features the profile of an NVA soldier in place of the traditional DDR coat of arms.

NVA "Wilhelm Pieck"

Military-Political Academy Badge: 1987-1990

The Wilhelm Pieck Academy was founded in 1970 for the purpose of training selected officers to serve as political cadres in the armed forces. The overriding purpose was to make sure that through the use of officers trained in agit-prop/agitation-propaganda techniques the troops would remain loyal to the East German Communist Party (SED) and the cause of "socialism and peace".

The "Wilhelm Pieck" Militärpolitische Hochschule der NVA (MPHS) was located in in Berlin - Grünau. This Academy was for NVA officers who wanted to follow an NVA political career. After Graduation from the MPHS they could be promoted to "Stellvertreter" of the Battalion Commander or work in the Arbeitsgruppe "Polit" of a Regiment, Brigade or the equivilant. They were not only responsible for the Political training of the soldiers, also they were for the organisation of the Culture and Freizeit of the soldiers in their Regiment, Brigade etc. Also they helped the Commander by the organisation of "Wettbewerbe" and were responsible for any other duties the Commander thought fitting.

MPHS students were also able to study in Military Academies, either at the MAK in Dresden or Moscow.

The diamond-shaped badge is red with white trim, and features a frontal view of Wilhelm Pieck, first president of the DDR. (1975-1985) Medallion in the top half of the Badge. Below are the letters NVA and it was enamelled. Screwback.(1987-1990) This was the last variation of the badge and only had the medallion. This type was lacquered and was produced in screwback and pinback.

(1975-1985)

(1987-1990)

Hochschule des Ministeriums für Staatssicherheit

Stasi Officer Academy Badge

The college of the Ministry of State Security was a training facility for employees of the State Security Service of the GDR. Founded on June 16, 1951 as the "School of the MfS", she received the status of a "College for Legal Education" on 16 February 1965. The training was only the name, but not the content of a law degree. It was not a training center for a legal profession and also not a law research institute, but an academic intelligence agency of the Ministry of State Security with very strong ideological orientation and is therefore classified by the historian Kowalczuk as one of the ideology colleges of the GDR. The collage ceased activity in January 1990.

The Stasi awarded 2 types of academy badges. The more prestigious white badge was awarded to officials who graduated from the Stasi's own academy in Potsdam. The blue badge distinguished those who acquired their education elsewhere. Both badges were triangular, with the Stasi coat of arms in the center. The white badge in particular is destined to be a very valuable collectible.

Institut der Zollverwaltung der DDR "Heinrich Rau" -

Plessow (1965 to 1980 )

Institute of the Customs Administration

of the DDR "Heinrich Rau"

The University of the MfS maintained close connections to the Institute of the Customs Administration of the DDR "Heinrich Rau" in Plessow (from 1965 to 1980). These contacts were especially in the 1970s and 1980s by the director of the institute Dieter Rutsch and his first deputy and later successor Horst Bischoff launched and deepened until the turn of ever deeper.