The title could be awarded to people who had—by rendering extraordinary service or acts of heroism[4][1]—contributed to the development and strengthening of the German Democratic Republic, its international standing and authority, or its military security.

[4][5] The following categories of person were generally eligible to receive the award:[4] Following the example of the Soviet honorific title Hero of the Soviet Union,[9] the award Hero of the GDR entitled the holder to wear a five-pointed gold star medal, be presented with a certificate, and receive a financial reward.

[12] The new title was first awarded on 28 November 1975 to General of the National People's Army, Heinz Hoffmann, on the occasion of his 65th birthday.

[14][15][16] Only two of the original 11 recipients are still alive: the cosmonauts Vladimir Kovalyonok and Aleksander Ivanchenkov, who crewed EO-2[17] of the Soviet orbital space station Salyut 6.

[22][23] There was a specific order of precedence laid down in its gazette for the wearing of the some 195 GDR medals and awards, devised according to the relative prestige of each honour.