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== Criteria ==
== Criteria ==
The Order of the German Eagle was a diplomatic and honorary award given to prominent foreigners, particularly diplomats, who were considered sympathetic to Nazism. At least two Germans were also awarded the Order, [[Constantin von Neurath]] who received a Special Degree of the Order of the German Eagle on 20 April 1939, and [[Joachim von Ribbentrop]] on being appointed Foreign Minister.
The Order of the German Eagle was a diplomatic and honorary award given to prominent foreigners, particularly diplomats, who were considered sympathetic to Nazism. At least two Germans were also awarded the Order, [[Constantin von Neurath]] who received a Special Degree of the Order of the German Eagle on 20 April 1939, and [[Joachim von Ribbentrop]] on being appointed Foreign Minister.<ref name=von>[http://www.axishistory.com/index.php?id=1896] Axis History Factbook - Holders of the Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle in Gold</ref>


== Appearance and classes==
== Appearance and classes==

Revision as of 18:53, 2 December 2008

Service Order of the German Eagle (sample awarded to Charles Lindbergh)

The Order of the German Eagle (Template:Lang-de) was an award of the German Nazi regime, predominantly to foreign diplomats. The Order was instituted on 1 May 1937 by Adolf Hitler.[1] It ceased to be awarded following the collapse of the Nazi Government at the end of World War Two.

Criteria

The Order of the German Eagle was a diplomatic and honorary award given to prominent foreigners, particularly diplomats, who were considered sympathetic to Nazism. At least two Germans were also awarded the Order, Constantin von Neurath who received a Special Degree of the Order of the German Eagle on 20 April 1939, and Joachim von Ribbentrop on being appointed Foreign Minister.[2]

Appearance and classes

The Cross is based on the Maltese Cross with German Eagles at each corner carrying a swastika. For military recipients the Order also featured crossed swords.[1] The cross was suspended from a 46 mm red ribbon with stripes in black, red and white. The appearance and name of the Order was an imitation of the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle and Order of the Red Eagle.

From 1937 to 1943 the order was presented in six classes:[3]

  1. Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle (Grosskreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens)
  2. Order of the German Eagle with Star (Deutscher Adlerorden mit Stern)
  3. Order of the German Eagle 1st Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Erste Stufe)
  4. Order of the German Eagle 2nd Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Zweite Stufe)
  5. Order of the German Eagle 3rd Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Dritte Stufe)
  6. German Medal of Merit (Deutsche Verdienstmedaille)

A unique Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle in Gold with Diamonds (Grosskreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens in Gold und Brillanten) was also awarded to Benito Mussolini on 25 September 1937.[3]

On 27 December 1943 the Order was reorganised into nine classes:[3]

  1. Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle in Gold (Goldenes Grosskreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens)
  2. Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle (Grosskreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens)
  3. Order of the German Eagle 1st Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Erste Stufe)
  4. Order of the German Eagle 2nd Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Zweite Stufe)
  5. Order of the German Eagle 3rd Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Dritte Stufe)
  6. Order of the German Eagle 4th Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Vierte Stufe)
  7. Order of the German Eagle 5th Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Fünfte Stufe)
  8. Silver Medal of Merit (Silberne Verdienstmedaille)
  9. Bronze Medal of Merit (Bronzene Verdienstmedaille)

Recipients

Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle in Gold with Diamonds

Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle in Gold

The Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle in Gold was awarded twelve times:[2][3] Axis History Factbook - Holders of the Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle in Gold</ref>

Other classes

Number awarded unknown.

  • Emil Kirdof, director of the Gelsenkirchen industrial consortium (awarded by Hitler on 8 April 1937)
  • Thomas J. Watson, chairman of IBM, 1937. Watson was also president of the International Chamber of Commerce in 1937; the medal was awarded while the ICC was meeting in Germany that year.
  • Henry Ford was awarded the Grand Cross of the German Eagle on his 75th birthday, 30 July 1938.[4][3]
  • General Olof Thörnell, Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, was awarded the Grand Cross of the German Eagle 7 October 1940.[3]
  • Charles Lindbergh was awarded the Order of the German Eagle with Star 19 October 1938.[3]
  • James Mooney, General Motors' chief executive for overseas operations, was awarded Order of the German Eagle 1st Class[3]
  • Swedish explorer Sven Hedin was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle on his 75th birthday on 19 February 1940
  • Finnish Minister of Defence Rudolf Walden was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "AWM Collection Record: RELAWM30337A". Australian War Memorial. 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-1. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  2. ^ a b [1] Axis History Factbook - Holders of the Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle in Gold
  3. ^ a b c d e f g [2]Axis History Factbook - Order of the German Eagle
  4. ^ Cabadas, Joe (2004). River Rouge. MotorBooks/MBI Publishing Company. p. 75. ISBN 9780760317082. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |month= and |coauthors= (help) cited in "River Rouge, by Joe Cabadas". Google Book Search. 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-1. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)
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