Volkspolizei Absolventenabzeichen
der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik
~ East German Police Academy Badges ~
History
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In line with the tradition of awarding graduate badges in the Soviet Union, so it was for the armed forces of the DDR. For example, in 1970 the MdI designated a graduation badge for officers who had graduated from the "Volkspolizei" college of higher education "Karl Liebknecht". The foundation of the graduate badge for degrees at civil universities or colleges as well as for studies at the military college of the MdI dates back to the year 1985. Graduate badges had a high status as a status symbol, with the last ones being awarded in 1990. With the dissolution of the MdI and the DVP this tradition was stopped. The already planned graduate badge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MfiA), as successor of the MdI, were never awarded because of the German reunification.
Absolventenabzeichen (Graduate badge) (from left to right)
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1. College of the German People's Police "Karl Liebknecht", Berlin
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2. Civil university or college
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3. OHS of the MDI "Artur Becker", Dresden
Awarding Academies
The graduation badge was awarded in three different versions and was divided as follows:
1. - Graduate badge for officers of the MdI who had graduated from the College of the German People's Police "Karl Liebknecht" Berlin
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The College of the German People's Police "Karl Liebknecht" was an educational institution of the Ministry of the Interior of the GDR. The predecessor of the college was the Higher Police School.
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The establishment of the college took place on 1 December 1962 by decision of 13 September 1962. Like its predecessor institution, the university had its headquarters in Berlin-Kaulsdorf. The college was "the highest educational institution of the Ministry of the Interior for the education and training of senior cadres of the DVP and other organs of the Ministry of the Interior."
[1] It was subordinated to the Minister of the Interior, who also held the post of Chief of the German People's Police.
[2] In addition to the training of officers for the executive level, the university should also conduct research activities and support the further education of members of the Ministry of the Interior and the German People's Police.
[3] The Institute for Education and Training of the People's Police in Biesenthal, founded on May 29, 1967, supplemented the further education activities of the university. It was subordinate to the university.
From autumn 1973, the move to the new university building in Berlin-Biesdorf (now corner of Blumberger dam / Cecilienstraße) gradually took place. During the X. World Festival of Youth in the summer of 1973 in Berlin, the Delegation of Czechoslovakia (CSSR) inhabited the boarding schools of the university. After their departure, the boarding school was occupied by members of the university. Until February 1974, however, the university still used the old location Kaulsdorf for their courses. The completion of other parts of the building, such as the large auditorium, the capacities of the university in the late 1970s significantly expanded. In addition to the university, the central data center and the central criminal registration office of the Ministry of the Interior were also located at the same location. In addition to the provision of these services, the university was responsible for their safety. The university received on June 27, 1977 the suffix "Karl Liebknecht".
2. - Graduate badges for MdI officers who had graduated from a civilian university or college
3. - Graduate badge for graduates of the Officer College of the Ministry of the Interior "Artur Becker" –
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The officer's college of the Ministry of the Interior - (OHS of the MdI) had the honorary name "Artur Becker" and was one of the officer high schools of the GDR. It served the training of officers mainly the Volkspolizei readiness, but also other armed organs. The students carried during their service at this OHS officer pupil grades. Graduates who successfully completed their studies at the OHS were generally appointed lieutenants of the VP.
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"The riot police did not have their own officer's school. It was not until the beginning of the 60s that the VoPo began the training of its own officers, but the majority of officers continued to be trained in schools of the NVA. "
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In October 1962 began in Dresden, the establishment of the Central Institute of the MdI for the training of military cadres - ZLA (M) -, which began officer training in February 1963.
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The teaching unit under its first commander Major of the VP Weigelt was located in Dresden (Trachau), Neuländer Straße 60 (today directly on the Federal Highway 4, junction Wilder Mann). On the site a police barracks had been built in 1935. The buildings were used after the Second World War until 1954 by a clinic for the physically handicapped.
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In 1971, the schools name was changed from "Offiziershochschule – Bereitschaftenn (Officer College - Readiness)" to that of "Offiziershochschule des Ministeriums des Innern Artur Becker – Bereitschaften (Ministry of the Interior - Artur Becker)".
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The graduates of this officer high school bore from the year 1986 a special graduate badge.
Appearance
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The VoPo graduate badges have the shape of a rhombus, with the lower half of the badge flanked by two laurel branches. In the middle of the badge, which is 30 mm wide and 45 mm high, a golden image of a police officer. The midfield is white on the graduation badge of the University of the German People's Police as well as the civil universities and colleges. The officer's college, on the other hand, is green. The back of all badges is smooth. The front of the badges was covered with polyester resin.
Method of Wear
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The academy badges of the MdI were worn on the right side of the uniform jacket. They were to be fastened in the middle directly above the right breast pocket. Other alumni badges, such as another officer high school of the DDR or the military academy Friedrich Engels, were worn left beside the graduation badge of the MdI. Since November 1990 alumni badges of any kind are not carried by former members of the MdI, which were taken over into the police service of the countries and the federation.