St George's Medal

The Saint George Medal [Sankt-Georgs-Medaille] (also known as the Saint George Plaque [Plakette Heiliger Georg]) is a non-wearable award of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) that was originally subject to secrecy, for long-serving or meritorious employees as well as individual members of friendly foreign intelligence services. It was established on 31 March 1956 and depicts Saint George, the patron saint of the BND. Since an intelligence service, as a social structure, cannot have an outwardly visible sign for creating identity, the Saint George Medal has an inward-facing integrative significance as a symbol that fosters identity.