This special enamel pin with the GDR national emblem for clothing and other textiles commemorates the »Held der Arbeit« (Hero of Labour) award.
There was no shortage of heroes in the GDR. They were on the production front and won the harvest battle every year. There was a lot of medal plate and even more tinny sayings for them. Since 1950, on 7 October, the birthday of the Republic, the honorary title »Held der Arbeit« (Working Class Hero) was awarded, together with a bonus of 10,000 marks. Both labourers and collectives from the factories as well as high state functionaries were awarded this honour. The last award ceremony took place on 5 October 1989. A few weeks later, the gold-plated tin stars were lying in the rummage boxes of the street vendors.