Awards and decorations of Nazi Germany were military, political and civilian decorations that were bestowed between 1923 and 1945, first by the
Nazi Party
The Nazi Party, officially the National Socialist German Workers' Party (german: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP), was a far-right political party in Germany active between 1920 and 1945 that created and supported t ...
and later the state of
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
.
The first awards began in the 1920s, before the Nazis had come to national power in
Germany
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...
, with the political decorations worn on Party uniforms, along with any awards they may have earned during the
First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
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
The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the '' Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previo ...
long service decorations, followed by awards for participation in the
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, link ...
and for the annexation of Austria and the
Sudetenland, with the greatest number established after the start of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
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
Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated between ...
permitted qualifying veterans to wear many Nazi-era awards in
Bundeswehr
The ''Bundeswehr'' (, meaning literally: ''Federal Defence'') is the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The ''Bundeswehr'' is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part con ...
uniform. including most World War II valor and campaign awards, provided the swastika symbol was removed. This led to the re-design of many awards with, for example, the swastika being replaced by
three-leafed oakleaf clusteron the Iron Cross and by the date ''1939'' on the War Merit Cross.
In addition, new military awards were created for post war service by both the
West German
West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...
and
East German
East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR; german: Deutsche Demokratische Republik, , DDR, ), was a country that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution on 3 October 1990. In these years the state ...
governments.
Orders and decorations
State orders
War decorations: pre 1939
War decorations: 1939–1945
These awards were bestowed by the
Wehrmacht
The ''Wehrmacht'' (, ) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the ''Heer'' (army), the '' Kriegsmarine'' (navy) and the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force). The designation "''Wehrmacht''" replaced the previo ...
and
Waffen-SS
The (, "Armed SS") was the combat branch of the Nazi Party's ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) organisation. Its formations included men from Nazi Germany, along with Waffen-SS foreign volunteers and conscripts, volunteers and conscripts from both occup ...
between 1939 and 1945, during
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
.
Military service decorations
Military long service medals
Arm shields
Campaign cuff titles
Military and paramilitary badges
Army/ war badges
Naval war badges
badges & other awards
The Luftwaffe maintained two non-portable awards, the "
Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe
The ''Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe'' (Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe) was a Luftwaffe award established on 27 February 1940 by ''Reichsmarschall'' Hermann Göring, the ''Reich'' Minister of Aviation and Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was of ...
" () and the "Luftwaffe Honor Plate" (). Recipients of both awards automatically received the Luftwaffe
Honour Roll Clasp in January 1944.
Foreign volunteer awards
Order of precedence
Within the Wehrmacht, wartime awards (german: Kriegsorden) took precedence over peacetime decorations.
# Grand Cross of the Iron Cross
# Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (and higher)
# Golden Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross
# Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
# Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross
# German Cross
# Honour Roll Clasp
# ''Führer'' Commendation Certificate
# Honor Goblet & Plate of the ''Luftwaffe''
# Iron Cross 1st Class
# War Merit Cross 1st Class
# Iron Cross 2nd Class
# Combat Clasp
# Numbered war badges
# Wound Badge
# Tank Destruction Badge
# Unnumbered war badges
# Campaign shields & cuff titles
# War Merit Cross 2nd Class
# ''Ostvolk'' Decoration
# Eastern Front Medal
# War Merit Medal
# Cross of Honor (1914–1918)
# Spanish Cross
# Qualification badges
# Long-service awards
# Commemorative medals
# West Wall Medal
# Foreign decorations
See also
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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 ...
Notes
References
;Citations
;Bibliography
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External links
WW2 German Medals and Awards Guide
{{Decorations by country, state=collapsed