Jump to content

Orders, decorations, and medals of Nazi Germany: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
convert list to table; reduce excessive images & remove cuffbands & red links - will preserve on Talk
mv Wound badge into badges; more conversions & rm non-articles
Line 9: Line 9:


Nazi awards and decorations were discontinued after the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. After the end of World War II, new German military awards were created under the authority of the [[Awards and decorations of the German Armed Forces|West German military]] and the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of East Germany|East German communist regime]].
Nazi awards and decorations were discontinued after the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. After the end of World War II, new German military awards were created under the authority of the [[Awards and decorations of the German Armed Forces|West German military]] and the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of East Germany|East German communist regime]].
⚫
{{TOC limit}}

==Orders==
==Orders==
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
{| class="wikitable" width="100%"
Line 91: Line 91:
|}
|}


⚫
==Military and paramilitary decorations==
==Nazi-era awards==
⚫
Theses were awards and medals bestowed by the [[Wehrmacht]] and [[Waffen-SS]] between 1935 and 1945, during the rule of the [[Nazi Party]] in Germany and the years of [[World War II]].
The following articles deal with Nazi-era awards:

⚫
* [[List of military decorations of Nazi Germany]]
⚫
* [[List of civil decorations of Nazi Germany]]
* [[Political decorations of the Nazi Party]]

==Pre-Nazi era awards==
Orders, decorations and medals earned by Germans before the Nazi assumption of power continued to be worn and were incorporated into the prescribed orders of precedence and uniform regulations for the German armed forces and civil organisations in Germany. These included awards of Imperial Germany and its members states (Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, etc.), awards of the Weimar Republic and awards of Austro-Hungary (after the 1938 annexation, Austrian awards were treated as another class of state award like Prussian and Bavarian).

[[German decorations of the First World War]] were by far the most numerous of pre-Nazi era decorations displayed on Nazi uniforms. Prior to Hitler assuming power, when the Nazi Party was simply a [[paramilitary]] political party, Nazi uniforms also displayed several awards of the [[Freikorps]]. [[Awards of the German Freikorps]] were prohibited from wear after Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, with any veteran who had received one then eligible for the [[Cross of Honor]] of World War I. In all, nearly eight million persons applied for, and received, the Cross of Honor in lieu of a former unofficial veteran or Freikorps medal.

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 146-2006-0191, Bodewin Keitel.jpg|thumb|225px|[[Bodewin Keitel|Bodewin Claus Eduard Keitel]] (brother of [[Wilhelm Keitel]]) displaying several military awards of the Wehrmacht]]
⚫
The '''military decorations of Nazi Germany''' were awards and medals bestowed by the ''[[Wehrmacht]]'' and ''[[Waffen-SS]]'' between 1935 and 1945, during the rule of the [[Nazi Party]] in Germany and the years of [[World War II]].
⚫
{{TOC limit}}

⚫
==Military decorations==


===Unique medals and special degrees===
===Unique medals and special degrees===
Line 200: Line 185:
|}
|}


==Wound badges==
===Arm shields===
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto"
! [[Wound Badge|Spanish Black Wound Badge of 1936–1939]]
! [[Wound Badge|Spanish Silver Wound Badge of 1936–1939]]
! [[Wound Badge|Spanish Gold Wound Badge of 1936–1939]]
|-
|
|
|
|-
! [[Wound Badge|Black Wound Badge of 1939–1945]]
! [[Wound Badge|Silver Wound Badge of 1939–1945]]
! [[Wound Badge|Gold Wound Badge of 1939–1945]]
|-
|[[File:Нагрудный знак за ранение-Чёрный (1939).svg|100px|center]]
|[[File:Нагрудный знак за ранение-Серебро (1939).svg|100px|center]]
|[[File:Нагрудный знак за ранение-Золото (1939).svg|100px|center]]
|-
! [[Wound Badge|Black Wound Badge of 20 July 1944]]
! [[Wound Badge|Silver Wound Badge of 20 July 1944]]
! [[Wound Badge|Gold Wound Badge of 20 July 1944]]
|-
|
|[[File:Verwundetenabzeichen in Silber 20 Juli 1944.jpg|130px|center]]
|[[File:Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold 20 Juli 1944.jpg|130px|center]]
|}

==Arm shields==
[[File:Krimschild.JPG|thumb|125px|[[Crimea Shield]]]]
[[File:Krimschild.JPG|thumb|125px|[[Crimea Shield]]]]
*[[Narvik Shield]], 1940
*[[Narvik Shield]], 1940
Line 236: Line 194:
*[[Lappland Shield]], 1944–1945
*[[Lappland Shield]], 1944–1945


==Military and paramilitary badges==
===Military and paramilitary badges===


===Army/Waffen-SS war badges===
====Army/Waffen-SS war badges====
[[File:General Assault Badge.jpg|thumb|150px|General Assault Badge]]
[[File:General Assault Badge.jpg|thumb|150px|General Assault Badge]]
*[[Infantry Assault Badge]]
*[[Infantry Assault Badge]]
Line 251: Line 209:
*[[Sniper's Badge]]
*[[Sniper's Badge]]
*[[Tank Memorial Badge]]
*[[Tank Memorial Badge]]
*[[Wound Badge]]

===Naval war badges===
====Naval war badges====
[[File:Abzeichen für Blockadebrecher.jpg|thumb|150px|Blockade-runner Badge]]
[[File:Abzeichen für Blockadebrecher.jpg|thumb|150px|Blockade-runner Badge]]
{{main|Awards and decorations of the Kriegsmarine}}
{{main|Awards and decorations of the Kriegsmarine}}
Line 266: Line 224:
*[[Naval Front Clasp]]
*[[Naval Front Clasp]]


===Luftwaffe badges & other awards===
====Luftwaffe badges & other awards====
[[File:Flugzeugführerabzeichen.jpg|thumb|150px|Pilot's Badge]]
[[File:Flugzeugführerabzeichen.jpg|thumb|150px|Pilot's Badge]]
*[[Combined Pilots-Observation Badge]]
*[[Combined Pilots-Observation Badge]]
Line 280: Line 238:
*[[Air Gunner Badge]]
*[[Air Gunner Badge]]


[[Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe|Luftwaffe Flying Clasp]]s were awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. The ''Luftwaffe'' also maintained two non-portable awards, the first being the "[[Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe|Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe]]" ("Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg"). The second was the "Luftwaffe Honor Plate" ("Ehrenschale für hervorragende Kampfleistungen der Luftwaffe"), in June 1942.{{cn|date=September 2018}}
[[Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe|Luftwaffe Flying Clasp]]s were awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. The Luftwaffe also maintained two non-portable awards, the first being the "[[Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe|Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe]]" ("Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg"). The second was the "Luftwaffe Honor Plate" ("Ehrenschale für hervorragende Kampfleistungen der Luftwaffe"), in June 1942.{{cn|date=September 2018}}


==Foreign division awards==
===Foreign division awards===
Foreign division awards were specially intended for non-German volunteers serving in specially formed divisions serving under the German military.
Foreign division awards were specially intended for non-German volunteers serving in specially formed divisions in the Wehrmacht.
⚫
*[[Blue Division Medal (Germany)|Blue Division Medal]]
*[[Ostvolk Medal]]


==See also==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto"
⚫
* [[List of civil decorations of Nazi Germany]]
⚫
! [[Blue Division Medal (anti-bolshevism)|Blue Division Medal]]
⚫
* [[Political decorations of the Nazi Party]]
! [[Ostvolk Medal]] First Class <br> (''Gold and Silver'') <br> (''Awarded with and without Swords'')
! [[Ostvolk Medal]] Second Class <br> (''Gold, Silver and Bronze'') <br> (''Awarded with and without Swords'')
|-
|[[File:Blue Division Medal (anti-bolshevism) obv.jpg|185px|center]]
|
|[[File:Tapferkeits- und Verdienstauszeichnung für Angehörige der Ostvölker in Silber.jpg|95px|center]]
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto"
! 5th Don Cossack Regimental Cross<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ailsby|first1=Christopher|title=The 5th Don Cossacks Cavalry Regiment Cross|url=http://ailsby-collection.blogspot.dk/2015/12/the-5th-don-cossacks-cavalry-regiment.html|website=Ailsby Collection|accessdate=26 April 2018|date=6 December 2015}}</ref>
! 2nd Siberian Cossack Regimental Cross<ref>{{cite web|title=Cossack Volunteers|url=https://axis101.bizland.com/CossackShields02.htm|website=axis101.bizland.com|accessdate=26 April 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[File:none.svg|150px|center]]
| [[File:none.svg|150px|center]]
|}


==References==
==References==
Line 307: Line 253:
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


{{Decorations by country}}
{{Decorations by country|state=collapsed}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Orders, decorations, and medals of Nazi Germany}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orders, decorations, and medals of Nazi Germany}}

Revision as of 22:20, 22 September 2018

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 early Party uniforms. Most early Nazis also displayed awards they may have earned as soldiers and sailors 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 military and civil service long service decorations and life-saving medals, were redesigned to incorporate the Nazi symbol, the swastika.

Nazi military awards are by far the most commonly recognised. Military long service decorations, awards for participation in the Spanish Civil War and medals for the annexation of Austria and the Sudetenland were among early awards, but the greatest number began to be bestowed in 1939 after the start of World War II in Europe. Regulations of award issuance also permitted the simultaneous wear of military, civilian, and political decorations on any military or para-military uniform of Nazi Germany, allowing for a wide variety of combinations in manner of wear and awards displayed.

Nazi awards and decorations were discontinued after the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. After the end of World War II, new German military awards were created under the authority of the West German military and the East German communist regime.

Orders

Badge And Ribbon Name (English/German) Creation Date – Cessation Date Description Number Awarded
File:Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (1939).jpg
Order Of The Star Of The Grand Cross Of The Iron Cross
Stern zum Großkreuz Des Eisernen Kreuzes
1 September 1939 – 8 May 1945 Intended to be awarded to the most successful German General/Field Marshal of the Second World War, once Greater Germany had achieved victory. 0
Order Of The 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 was the only recipient of this award during the second world war after his part in the victory over Poland, France, Denmark, Norway and the BeNeLux nations. He was awarded this award on 19 July 1940. 1
Order Of The 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 the second world war to Greater Germany's 12 greatest war heroes. Adolf Hitler prematurely awarded Hans-Ulrich Rudel with the golden oak leaves for continuous outstanding achievements and heroism. Then and to this day Hans-Ulrich Rudel was the greatest scoring ground-attack pilot in history. 1
Order Of The 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 Awarded 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
Order Of The 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 Awarded 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
(157 German,
1 Japanese,
2 Spaniards)[citation needed]
Order Of The Knight's Cross Of The Iron Cross With Oak Leaves
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub
3 June 1940 – 8 May 1945 Awarded 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)
Order Of The Knight's Cross Of The Iron Cross
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes
1 September 1939 – 8 May 1945 Awarded for continuous bravery before the enemy or excellence in commanding troops after being awarded all preceding classes of the Iron Cross. 7,318
File:GermanCrossInGoldWithDiamonds.jpg
Order Of The 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 being awarded the German Cross in Gold) but no awards were ever made. 0
Order Of The German Cross In Gold
Kriegsorden des Deutschen Kreuzes in Gold
28 September 1941 – 8 May 1945 Awarded for continuous bravery before the enemy or excellence in commanding troops (Not justifying the Knight’s Cross Of The Iron Cross but having already being awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class) 24,204
(24,190 German,
14 Axis Allies)
Order Of The German Cross In Silver
Kriegsorden des Deutschen Kreuzes in Silber
28 September 1941 – 8 May 1945 Awarded for significant performances in aiding/supplying the military war effort. (Not justifying the Knight’s Cross of either the Iron Cross or the War Merit Cross but having already being awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class or War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords) 1,115
Order Of The Iron Cross (1st Class)
Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse
1 September 1939 – 8 May 1945 Awarded for continuous bravery before the enemy or excellence in commanding troops after being awarded the preceding class of the Iron Cross. c730,000
Order Of The Iron Cross (2nd Class)
Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse
1 September 1939 – 8 May 1945 Awarded for bravery before the enemy or excellence in commanding troops. c4,750,000

Military and paramilitary decorations

Theses were awards and medals bestowed by the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS between 1935 and 1945, during the rule of the Nazi Party in Germany and the years of World War II.

Unique medals and special degrees

Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross Grand Cross of the Iron Cross Knights Cross of the Iron Cross
with Golden Oakleaves
Swords, and Diamonds 		Golden Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross
(Awarded with and without Swords) 		German Cross with Diamonds
File:Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (1939).jpg
File:GermanCrossInGoldWithDiamonds.jpg

Military valor decorations

Knights Cross of the Iron Cross
with Oakleaves, Swords, and Diamonds 		Knights Cross of the Iron Cross
with Oakleaves and Swords 		Knights Cross of the Iron Cross
with Oakleaves 		Knights Cross of the Iron Cross

Meritorious military decorations

German Cross in Gold Iron Cross First Class Iron Cross Second Class 1939 Clasp to the Iron Cross Military Honor Roll Clasp
(Awarded for Army, Navy, and Air Force)
Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross
(Awarded with and without Swords) 		German Cross in Silver War Merit Cross (First and Second Class)
(Awarded with and without Swords)
Spanish Cross in Gold, Silver, and Bronze
Awarded with and without Swords
Special grade awarded in Gold with Diamonds
Posthumous grade known as "Spanish Cross for Next of Kin of Fallen"

Military service decorations

Cross of Honor (1914–1918) Eastern Front Medal West Wall Medal[1]
Upgradeable to include 1944 Bar 		Anschluss Medal Memel Medal Sudetenland Medal
Upgradeable to include
Prague Castle Bar

Military service medals

Wehrmacht Long Service Award
Awarded for Army, Navy, and Air Force
Awarded in grades of 4, 12, 18, 25, and 40 Years of Service 		SS Long Service Award
Awarded in grades of 4, 12, 18, and 25 Years of Service

Arm shields

Crimea Shield

Military and paramilitary badges

Army/Waffen-SS war badges

General Assault Badge
Blockade-runner Badge
Main article: Awards and decorations of the Kriegsmarine

Luftwaffe badges & other awards

Pilot's Badge

Luftwaffe Flying Clasps were awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. The Luftwaffe also maintained two non-portable awards, the first being the "Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe" ("Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg"). The second was the "Luftwaffe Honor Plate" ("Ehrenschale für hervorragende Kampfleistungen der Luftwaffe"), in June 1942.[citation needed]

Foreign division awards

Foreign division awards were specially intended for non-German volunteers serving in specially formed divisions in the Wehrmacht.

See also

References

  1. ^ 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". For those personnel who had already received the 1939 West Wall Medal, a "1944 Bar" was authorized to the decoration.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Orders,_decorations,_and_medals_of_Nazi_Germany&oldid=860765419"