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 para-military uniform of Nazi Germany.

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 in 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 on the Iron Cross and by the date 1939 on the War Merit Cross.[3] In addition, new military awards were created for post war service by both the West German and East German governments.

Orders and decorations

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

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 award 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 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
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
(159 German,
1 Japanese)[6]
 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)
 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
 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 end of 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) but no awards were ever made. 0
 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 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 Awarded 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 Honor 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 Awarded for continuous bravery before the enemy or excellence in commanding troops after being awarded the preceding class of the Iron Cross. c. 300,000[8]
 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. 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, second class.		 c. 480,000 with swords
c. 90,000 without swords[10]
 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[10]
 War Merit Medal
Kriegsverdienstmedaille		 19 August 1940 – 8 May 1945 Awarded for lower-level civilian contributions to the war effort. c. 4,900,000[10]

Military service decorations
Cross of Honor (1914–1918)
Ehrenkreuz des Weltkriegs		 Eastern Front Medal
Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten		 West Wall Medal[11]
Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen
1944 bar authorized		 Anschluss Medal Memel Medal Sudetenland Medal
Prague Castle Bar authorized

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

Arm shields
Narvik Shield, 1940 Crimea Shield, 1941–1942 Cholm Shield, 1942 Demyansk Shield, 1942 Kuban Shield, 1943 Warsaw Shield, 1944 Lappland Shield, 1944–1945

Campaign cuff titles
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 Tank Battle Badge Army Anti-Aircraft Badge Army Paratrooper Badge Bandit-warfare Badge
Balloon Observer's Badge Tank Destruction Badge Sniper's Badge

Wound Badge Driver Proficiency Badge Badge for Destruction of Strafing Warplanes Condor Legion Tank Badge
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 Combat Clasp Naval Front Clasp

Luftwaffe badges & other awards
Combined Pilots-Observation Badge Pilot's Badge Luftwaffe Paratrooper Badge Anti-Aircraft Flak Battle Badge Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe Observer Badge
Glider Pilot Badge Radio Operator Badge Flyer's Commemorative Badge Aircrew Badge Air Gunner Badge Luftwaffe Flying Clasps

The Luftwaffe maintained two non-portable awards. The first being the "Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe" (Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg). It was given to aircrew who had already been awarded the Iron Cross First Class, but whose performance was not considered to merit the German Cross or Knight's Cross. It was replaced by the Luftwaffe Honour Roll Clasp in January 1944.[12] The second was the "Luftwaffe Honor Plate" (Ehrenschale für hervorragende Kampfleistungen der Luftwaffe), in June 1942.

Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe Honour Roll Clasp Luftwaffe Honor Plate

Foreign volunteer awards
Blue Division Medal,
Spain		 Medal for Gallantry and Merit for Members of the Eastern Peoples,
with and without swords, I. class in gold and silver and II. class in gold, silver and bronze[13]		 Schalburg Cross,
Denmark		 5th Don Cossack
Regimental Cross[14][15]		 2nd Siberian Cossack
Regimental Cross[16][17]

See also

Notes
  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. One non-German received the Knight's Cross with oakleaves and swords: Admiral Yamamoto, see Scherzer 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. While estimates vary, War Merit Crosses/Medals awards total 'some 13 million' (Littlejohn & Dodkins, p 129), a figure reflected in total for all classes laid out here.
  11. 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.
  12. Angolia 1987, p. 320.
  13. Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann: Auszeichnungen des Deutschen Reiches. 1936–1945. Motorbuch, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-87943-689-4. p. 57-59
  14. Littlejohn & Dodkins 1968, p. 202.
  15. Ailsby, Christopher (6 December 2015). "The 5th Don Cossacks Cavalry Regiment Cross". Ailsby Collection. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  16. Littlejohn & Dodkins 1968, p. 203.
  17. "Cossack Volunteers". axis101.bizland.com. Retrieved 26 April 2018.

References
  • Angolia, John (1987). For Führer and Fatherland: Military Awards of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 0912138149.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Littlejohn, David; Dodkins, Colonel C. M. (1968). Orders, Decorations, Medals and Badges of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing, California. ISBN 978-0854200801.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Previtera, Stephen Thomas (2007). The Iron Time: A History of the Iron Cross. Second edition. Winidore Press. Richmond VA. ISBN 0967307031.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger: 1939-1945 (in German). Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag, Jena, Germany. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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