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Orders, decorations, and medals of Nazi Germany

Awards and decorations of Nazi Germany were military, political, and civilian decorations that were bestowed between 1923 and 1945, first by the Nazi Party and later the state of Nazi Germany.

The first awards began in the 1920s, before the Nazis had come to national power in Germany, with the political decorations worn on Party uniforms, along with any awards they may have earned during the First World War or before.

After 1933, the state began issuing a variety of civilian decorations, which could be bestowed upon any citizen of Germany. Thus, some awards (such as Sports Badges) were bestowed on Nazi Party members, members of the German military, and regular civilians. Many standard awards of the German state, such as life-saving medals, were redesigned to incorporate the Nazi symbol, the swastika.

A number of military awards were established pre-war, including Wehrmacht long service decorations, followed by awards for participation in the Spanish Civil War and for the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland, with the greatest number established after the start of World War II in 1939. Regulations of award also permitted the simultaneous wear of military, civilian, and political decorations on any military or paramilitary uniform of Nazi Germany.

Post-1957 Iron Cross 1st class with the three-leafed oakleaf cluster

Nazi awards and decorations were discontinued after the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, with display of the swastika banned. In 1957 the Federal Republic of Germany permitted qualifying veterans to wear many Nazi-era awards on the Bundeswehr uniform, including most World War II valor and campaign awards,[1] provided the swastika symbol was removed.[2] This led to the re-design of many awards with, for example, the swastika being replaced by a three-leafed oakleaf cluster (see picture) on the Iron Cross and by the date 1939 on the War Merit Cross.[3]

Orders and decorations

State orders

Badge and ribbon Name (English/German) Creation date – cessation date Description Number awarded
Order of the German Eagle
Verdienstorden vom Deutschen Adler 		1 May 1937 – 8 May 1945 Awarded with and without swords The number of times the order was awarded is unknown.
Cross of Honour of the German Mother
Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter 		1939 until 1945 Awarded to exemplary mothers who furnished Germany with Aryan children. Instigated by Adolf Hitler and bears his signature on the reverse. Awarded in three levels: bronze, silver, and gold The number of times the order was awarded is unknown. It is estimated that up until September 1941 there were a total of 4.7 million recipient mothers.

War decorations: pre-1939

Badge and ribbon Name (English/German) Creation date – cessation date Description Number awarded
Spanish Cross
Spanien-Kreuz 		14 April 1939 – 1940 Awarded with and without swords. Issued in bronze, silver, gold, and gold with diamonds. For service with the Condor Legion in Spain 26,116 total, for all classes
Condor Legion Tank Badge
Panzertruppenabzeichen der Legion Condor 		September 1936 – autumn 1939
(official decoration 10 July 1939) 		For tank instructors and maintenance personnel who served with the Condor Legion in Spain, 1936–1939 415

War decorations: 1939–1945

These awards were bestowed by the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS between 1939 and 1945, during World War II.

Badge and ribbon Name (English/German) Creation date – cessation date Description Number awarded
Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross
Stern zum Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes 		1 September 1939 – 8 May 1945 A higher class of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross. A prototype was made, but the decoration was never formally instituted or awarded.[4] 0
Grand Cross of the Iron Cross
Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes 		1 September 1939 – 8 May 1945 Awarded to victorious generals/field marshals of German forces and her allies. Hermann Göring, received the Grand Cross on 19 July 1940, the only recipient of World War II. 1
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit goldenem Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten 		29 December 1944 – 8 May 1945 To be awarded after World War II to Germany's 12 greatest war heroes. Actually awarded only once, to Hans-Ulrich Rudel for continuous outstanding achievements and heroism[5] 1
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten 		28 September 1941 – 8 May 1945 For continuous bravery before the enemy or excellence in commanding troops after being awarded all preceding classes of the Knight's Cross/Iron Cross 27
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern 		28 September 1941 – 8 May 1945 For continuous bravery before the enemy or excellence in commanding troops after being awarded all preceding classes of the Knight's Cross/Iron Cross 160 (159 German, 1 Japanese)[a]
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub 		3 June 1940 – 8 May 1945 For continuous bravery before the enemy or excellence in commanding troops after being awarded all preceding classes of the Knight's Cross/Iron Cross 890 (882 German, 8 Axis allies)
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes 		1 September 1939 – 8 May 1945 Awarded for outstanding bravery in the face of the enemy and for brilliant service in command of troops. A requirement was the possession of the 1st and 2nd class of the Iron Cross. 7,318
Golden Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross
Goldenes Ritterkreuz des Kriegsverdienstkreuz 		13 October 1944 – 8 May 1945 Awarded with and without swords. For outstanding contributions to the war effort 2 (Further recommendations not approved by the end of the war)
Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross
Ritterkreuz des Kriegsverdienstkreuz 		19 August 1940 – 8 May 1945 Awarded with and without swords. For meritorious contributions to the war effort after being awarded all preceding classes of the War Merit Cross c. 250
German Cross in Gold with Diamonds
Kriegsorden des Deutschen Kreuzes in Gold mit Brillanten 		October 1942 – 8 May 1945 To be awarded for continuous bravery before the enemy or excellence in commanding troops (having already been awarded the German Cross in Gold). No awards were ever made. 0
German Cross in Gold
Kriegsorden des Deutschen Kreuzes in Gold 		28 September 1941 – 8 May 1945 For continuous bravery before the enemy or excellence in commanding troops (not justifying the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross but having already been awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class) 24,204 (24,190 German, 14 Axis allies)
German Cross in Silver
Kriegsorden des Deutschen Kreuzes in Silber 		28 September 1941 – 8 May 1945 For significant performances in aiding the military war effort (Not justifying the Knight's Cross of either the Iron Cross or the War Merit Cross but having already been awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class or War Merit Cross 1st Class) 1,115
Honour Roll Clasp
Ehrenblattspange 		30 January 1944 – 8 May 1945 Different designs for the army, navy and air force
Awarded to those who appeared on the Honour Roll for distinction in combat 		4,556 (Army and Waffen-SS awards only)[7]
Iron Cross (1st Class)
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse 		1 September 1939 – 8 May 1945 For continuous bravery before the enemy or excellence in commanding troops after being awarded the Iron Cross 2nd class c. 300,000[8]
Iron Cross (2nd Class)
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 		1 September 1939 – 8 May 1945 For bravery before the enemy or excellence in commanding troops c. 4,500,000[9]
1939 Clasp to the Iron Cross
Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz 		1 September 1939 – 8 May 1945 An award of the Iron Cross, 1st or 2nd class for those who had already received the decoration in World War I 100,000+
War Merit Cross (1st Class)
Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1. Klasse 		18 October 1939 – 8 May 1945 Awarded with and without swords. For meritorious contributions to the war effort after being awarded the War Merit Cross, 2nd class c. 480,000 with swords
c. 90,000 without swords[b]
War Merit Cross (2nd Class)
Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse 		18 October 1939 – 8 May 1945 Awarded with and without swords. For meritorious contributions to the war effort c. 6,100,000 with swords
c. 1,500,000 without swords[b]
War Merit Medal
Kriegsverdienstmedaille 		19 August 1940 – 8 May 1945 For lower-level civilian contributions to the war effort c. 4,900,000[b]

Military service decorations

Cross of Honour (1914–1918)
Ehrenkreuz des Weltkriegs 		Eastern Medal
Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 		West Wall Medal[c]
Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen
1944 bar authorised 		Anschluss Medal Memel Medal Sudetenland Medal
Prague Castle Bar authorised

Military long service medals

Wehrmacht Long Service Award
Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnung
Awarded to army, navy, and air force
Grades for 4, 8, 15, 25, and 40 Years of Service 		SS Long Service Award
SS-Dienstauszeichnungen
Grades for 4, 12, 18, and 25 Years of Service

Arm shields

Main article: Campaign shields (Wehrmacht)
Narvik Shield, 1940 Crimea Shield, 1941–1942 Cholm Shield, 1942 Demyansk Shield, 1942 Kuban Shield, 1943 Warsaw Shield, 1944 Lapland Shield, 1944–1945

Campaign cuff titles

Main article: Cuff title
Crete Cuff Title, 1942 Africa Cuff Title, 1941–1943 Metz 1944 Cuff Title, 1944 Courland Cuff Title, 1944–1945

Military and paramilitary badges

Army/Waffen-SS war badges

Infantry Assault Badge General Assault Badge Close Combat Clasp Marksmanship Badge with lanyard Panzer Badge Army Anti-Aircraft Badge Parachutist Badge Bandit-warfare Badge
Balloon Observer's Badge Tank Destruction Badge Sniper's Badge Wound Badge Army Mountain Guide Badge Driver Proficiency Badge Badge for Destruction of Low-Flying Aircraft [de]
Main article: Awards and decorations of the Kriegsmarine
High Seas Fleet Badge Destroyer War Badge Minesweeper War Badge Blockade Runner Badge Fast Attack Craft War Badge
U-boat War Badge Auxiliary Cruiser Badge Naval Artillery War Badge U-Boat Front Clasp Naval Front Clasp

Luftwaffe badges & other awards

Combined Pilots-Observation Badge Pilot's Badge Parachutist Badge Anti-Aircraft Flak Battle Badge Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe Observer Badge
Glider Pilot Badge Radio Operator Badge & Air Gunner Badge Flyer's Commemorative Badge Aircrew Badge Sea Battle Badge [de] Luftwaffe Flying Clasps

The Luftwaffe maintained two non-portable awards, the "Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe" (Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg) and the "Luftwaffe Honour Plate" (Ehrenschale für hervorragende Kampfleistungen der Luftwaffe). Recipients of both awards automatically received the Luftwaffe Honour Roll Clasp in January 1944.[11]

Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe ''Luftwaffe'' Honour Plate [de] Honour Roll Clasp

Foreign volunteer awards

Blue Division Medal,
Spain 		Medal for Gallantry and Merit for Members of the Eastern Peoples
In various grades, with and without swords[12] 		Schalburg Cross,
Denmark 		5th Don Cossack
Regimental Cross[13][14] 		2nd Siberian Cossack
Regimental Cross[15][14]

Order of precedence

Within the Wehrmacht, wartime awards (German: Kriegsorden) took precedence over peacetime decorations.[16]

  1. Grand Cross of the Iron Cross
  2. Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (and higher)
  3. Golden Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross
  4. Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
  5. Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross
  6. German Cross
  7. Honour Roll Clasp
  8. Führer Commendation Certificate
  9. Honour Goblet & Plate of the Luftwaffe
  10. Iron Cross 1st Class
  11. War Merit Cross 1st Class
  12. Iron Cross 2nd Class
  13. Combat Clasp
  14. Numbered war badges
  15. Wound Badge
  16. Tank Destruction Badge
  17. Unnumbered war badges
  18. Campaign shields & cuff titles
  19. War Merit Cross 2nd Class
  20. Ostvolk Decoration
  21. Eastern Front Medal
  22. War Merit Medal
  23. Cross of Honour (1914–1918)
  24. Spanish Cross
  25. Qualification badges
  26. Long-service awards
  27. Commemorative medals
  28. West Wall Medal
  29. Foreign decorations

See also

Notes

  1. ^ One non-German received the Knight's Cross with oakleaves and swords: Admiral Yamamoto.[6]
  2. ^ a b c While estimates vary, War Merit Crosses/Medals awards total 'some 13 million',[10] a figure reflected in total for all classes laid out here.
  3. ^ The West Wall Medal was issued twice, once in 1939 and again in 1944. The 1944 version was commonly referred to as the "German Defense Medal". A "1944 bar" was authorized for recipients of the 1939 West Wall Medal.

References

Citations
  1. ^ "Dienstvorschriften Nr. 14/97. Bezug: Anzugordnung für die Soldaten der Bundeswehr. ZDv 37/10. (Juli 1996)". German Federal regulation. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  2. ^ "Bundesministerium der Justiz: Gesetz über Titel, Orden und Ehrenzeichen, 26.7.1957. Bundesgesetzblatt Teil III, Gliederungsnummer 1132-1". German Federal law. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  3. ^ Hieronymussen, Paul (1970). Orders, medals, and decorations of Britain and Europe in colour. London: Blandford Press. pp. 171–173. ISBN 978-0-7137-0445-7.
  4. ^ Littlejohn & Dodkins 1968, p. 120.
  5. ^ Littlejohn & Dodkins 1968, p. 117.
  6. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 801.
  7. ^ Angolia 1987, p. 316.
  8. ^ Both Littlejohn & Dodkins (p. 120) and Previtera (p. 322) indicate 'about 300,000'. Some estimates are higher.
  9. ^ Previtera 2007, p. 322. Some estimates are lower.
  10. ^ Littlejohn & Dodkins 1968, p. 129.
  11. ^ Angolia 1987, p. 320.
  12. ^ Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann: Auszeichnungen des Deutschen Reiches. 1936–1945. Motorbuch, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-87943-689-4. p. 57-59
  13. ^ Littlejohn & Dodkins 1968, p. 202.
  14. ^ a b Littlejohn 1994, p. 299.
  15. ^ Littlejohn & Dodkins 1968, p. 203.
  16. ^ Lumsden 2001, p. 88.
Bibliography
  • Angolia, John (1987). For Führer and Fatherland: Military Awards of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 0912138149.
  • Littlejohn, David; Dodkins, Colonel C. M. (1968). Orders, Decorations, Medals and Badges of the Third Reich. California: R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 978-0854200801.
  • Littlejohn, David (1994). Foreign Legions of the Third Reich. Volume 4. United States of America: R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 0-912138-36-X.
  • Lumsden, Robin (2001). Medals and Decorations of Hitler's Germany. England: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-178-1.
  • Previtera, Stephen Thomas (2007). The Iron Time: A History of the Iron Cross. Second edition. Winidore Press. Richmond VA. ISBN 978-0967307039.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger: 1939-1945 (in German). Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag, Jena, Germany. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
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