Political decorations of the Nazi Party

Political decorations of the Nazi Party were medals and awards issued by the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) between 1920 and 1945. Political awards were authorized for wear on any paramilitary uniform of Nazi Germany, as well as civilian attire, but were generally frowned upon for display (but not actually forbidden) on active duty military uniforms of the Wehrmacht. The one exception to this were the uniforms of the Waffen-SS, which freely mixed political awards and military decorations.

Political decorations

The various degrees of Nazi Party decorations are as follows:

The German Order
(Awarded with and without Swords)
The Blood Order Golden Party Badge

Golden Party Badge

The first 100,000 members who had joined and had uninterrupted service in the Nazi Party were given the right to wear the Golden Party Badge (Goldenes Parteiabzeichen), shown above. Those badges had the recipient's membership number on the back (Adolf Hitler had badge #1). Other Golden Party Badges (with the initials A.H. on the back) were awarded at the discretion of Hitler to certain members of the party who merited special attention. An identical badge was awarded each year on 30 January to persons who had shown outstanding service to the Party or State.[1]

Party badges

The leaders of Nazi political districts (known as the Gauleiter) were empowered to bestow Gau Badges for a variety of services rendered to the local political organization. The badges were issued in Silver and Gold with some issuance in Bronze. They were rarely issued in Gold with Diamonds.[2]

SS and Police decorations

Germanic-SS decorations

Awards specific to individual nationalistic Germanic-SS organizations were as follows:[2]

  • Germanic Proficiency Runes (Bronze and Silver)
  • SS Sports Badge (Netherlands)
  • SS Honor Sports Badge (Netherlands)
  • Brave and Faithful Order (Norway)
  • Førergarde Membership Badge (Norway)
  • Front Fighters Badge (Norway)
  • Mussert Bravery Cross (Netherlands)
  • Mussert-Garde Commemorative Pin (Netherlands)
  • Schalburg Cross (Denmark)
  • State Police Honor Cross (Norway)
  • W.A. Sports Badge (Netherlands)

SA decorations

NSFK decorations

  • The Free Balloon Pilot Badge (Das Abzeichen für Freiballonführer). This was authorized on 10 March 1938 by the NSFK Korpsführer, Friedrich Christiansen[3]
  • The Motor Aircraft Pilot Badge (Das Abzeichen für Motorflugzeugführer). This was authorized on 12 July 1938 by the NSFK Korpsführer Christiansen[3]
  • The Large Glider Flyer Badge (Das Große Segelfliegerabzeichen). This was authorized on 26 January 1942 by the NSFK Korpsführer, General der Flieger Christiansen[3]

Hitler Youth decorations

Hitler Youth awards were as follows:[4]

Notes

  1. ↑ Angolia 1989, pp. 178–179.
  2. 1 2 Lumsden 2001.
  3. 1 2 3 Doehle 1995, p. 122.
  4. ↑ Ailsby 1991.

References

  • Angolia, John (1989). For Führer and Fatherland: Political & Civil Awards of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 978-0912138169.
  • Doehle, Heinrich (1995) [1943]. Medals & Decorations of the Third Reich: Badges, Decorations, Insignia. Reddick Enterprises. ISBN 0962488348.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.