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 in 1990, former NVA Soldiers transferring into the new unified Bundeswehr could wear NVA award but list of approved East German decorations were limited and in the eyes of the new Bundeswehr fell under regulations for "foreign decorations". Awards associated with some state agencies or Communist organizations were considered to be in breach of public order and not allowed to be worn. Those were such as decorations issued by the Ministry for State Security, Border troops, Volkspolizei, Combat Groups, GST and the FDJ.

Free German Youth Society
These were awarded to Free German Youth (F.D.J.) members;

Socialist Unity Party
These were conferred by the Socialist Unity Party (S.E.D.);