The Banner of Labor () was an order issued in the German Democratic Republic (GDR).
It was given for "excellent and long-standing service in strengthening and consolidating the GDR, especially for achieving outstanding results for the national economy".
The order was established on 4 August 1954 in one class. On 8 August 1974 it was divided into three classes. The 1st Class was the highest class and each class included a cash award:
1st Class: 1,000 East German marks, limited to 250 per year
2nd Class: 750 East German marks, limited to 500 per year
3rd Class: 500 East German marks, limited to 1,000 per year
For collectives with up to 20 members, there were cash awards of 2,000, 3,500 and 5,000 Marks per member.
The Banner of Labor was awarded to:
Individuals and collectives in all three classes
Enterprises, Collective organizations (), institutions and cooperatives in the 1st Class
A prerequisite was that individuals and members of collectives already had received other state awards. The Order could be given in any class several times, even to citizens of other countries.
The awards ceremony took place each year on 1 May until 1989 and this order was presented by the Chairman of the State Council or on his behalf. A certificate was presented with the Order.
The medal is gilded, with dimensions of 44 x 37 mm. It is worn on the left chest. Establishments were entitled to include a symbol of the Order on their flag as well as on documents.
Recipients
1955: Luise Ermisch
1959: Walter Arnold (Germany) 1960: Hermann Axen, Friedrich Burmeister, Georg Ulrich Handke, Willi Bredel, Werner Bruschke 1962: Kurt Hager 1963: Erich Hans Apel, Ernst Albert Altenkirch, Walter Halbritter, Paul Fröhlich, Günter Mittag, Hermann Pöschel 1964: Rudi Georgi, Willi Stoph, Günther Wyschofsky 1965: Peter Florin, Grete Groh-Kummerlöw, Ernst Scholz, Erich Engel 1967: Rudi Georgi 1968: Wilhelm Adam, Roman Chwalek, Horst Dohlus, Werner Lamberz 1969: Julius Balkow, Lilly Becher, Klaus Gysi, Walter Halbritter, Ernst-Joachim Gießmann, Helmut Kirchberg, Paul Markowski, Hermann Pöschel, Kurt Wünsche 1970: Horst Dohlus 1974: Manfred Feist, Wolfgang Gress 1976: Bruno Lietz, Eberhard Heinrich 1978: Manfred Bochmann 1979: Hubert Egemann 1981: Gisela Glende 1984: Bruno Lietz, Siegfried Lorenz, Erik Neutsch 1986: Egon Krenz 1988: Hartmut Buschbacher