ACKERMANN OUTLINES CRITERIA FOR AWARD OF NATIONAL PRIZES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000600280908-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 22, 2011
• Sequence Number: 908
• Publication Date: February 14, 1950
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/22 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000600280908-3
CLASSIFICATION COIIFIDENTIAL
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO.
Soviet Zone Germany DATE OF
INFORMATION 1949
TNtS OOCCSINT COHTRIHS IHIORtlCTIOT ATTECTIHO !NL NATIONAL OIISNIE
HE THE UNITSO STAYRS WITNIN THE REARING 0. ISGIOTAOR ACT HO
H. S. C Ann ES. Al fl ESHER ITS TRNARYISSIOD OR TNR REY RLATION
p I(0 R-1R0. IS PRO
OIRITROC Ts I IIROOVCTIOH T T THIS I- IS
RT LA] R
GATE DIST. I'y Feb 1950
NO. OF PAGES 2
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
ACKERMANN OUTLINES CRITERIA
FOR AWARD OF NATIONAL PRIZES
A resolution adopted by the DWK (Deutsche Wirtschafts Kommission, Ger-
man Economic Commission) on 31 March 19+9 provides that a "National Prize"
will be awarded for outstanding achievements in the fields of science, tech-
nology, a:ud the development of sew manufacturing processes, as well as in
the sphere of art and literature.
In an article entitled "preparations for the Award of National Prizes,"
Anton Ackermann, chairman of the Committee for the Furtherance of Intelli-
gence, discusses the origin, nature, and purpose of these prizes and pleads
for widespread publicit,,' on their behalf by the "democratic" radio and press.
Statinu that "we have no reason to cover up the fact that the principle
and methods governing these awards originated in the USSR," he continues in
part;
"The award of National Prizes will not be on zonal but on an all-German
basis. The decisive factor in this connection will not be whether a man lives
in East Berlin or in its Western Sectors, whether he resides and works in
Dresden or Munich, but rather the end toward which he is working, the sum of
his achievements for his country, his people, and a truly htmtanlstic culture.
Therefore, under the provisions of the. DWK, every German, regardless of his
placc of residence, may compete for the National Prize. This includes Ger-
mans who have acquired another nationality in the wake of persecution during
the Hitler era but who, in their work and their attitude, have remained Ger-
mans.
S
l
"Prizes may be awarded for individual scientists as well as groups of
scientists and their assistants. In other words, the prize for a valuable
dfscovery may be awarded for individual or collective achievement; an indi-
vidual actor or an entire ensemble may be awarded the prize for outstanding
artistic performance or performances. However, it is undoubtedly within the
meaning of Article 23 of the DWK's decree of 31 March 1949 to award the prize
for individual discoveries, achievements, performances, etc., as a general
rule.
CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL ~,~
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/22 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000600280908-3
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/22 : CIA-RDP80-00809A000600280908-3
cisive; award of the 1949 prizes, however, forms a certain exception in this
respect. Nevertheless, even in connection with the first prize awards, chief
engineer, scientist, scholar, etc., will not be a determining factor in the
evaluation of his achievements in his special field. However, the democratic
"Yes, the candidates should and must be publicly discussed. We cannot
agree with the opinion of those intellectuals who consider it a degradation
or ever. an insult to be made to figure publicly as candidates for a National
Prize which subsequently may not be awarded to them.
"It is a signal honor even to be proposed as candidate f.)r such a prize,
whether by an academy of science, a democratic organization, the rain admin-
istrations of the German Economic Commission and the German Administration for
Popular Education, or by a Land government or a workers' assembly. Proposal
of a person as a candidate for the National Prize places him within the circle
of men and women who have servsd our people best; therefore the very mention
of his name, indicates appreciation of his ac`ievementts."
CO FIDENTIAL
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