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Category: Interwar Medals

The SS Chevron for Former Police and Military

The SS Chevron for Former Police and Military was a service badge awarded to members of the Nazi Party Schutzstaffel (SS) for service.

The SS Chevron for Former Police and Military (or SS-Ehrenwinkel mit Stern für ehemalige Polizei- und Wehrmachtsangehörige in German) was a service badge awarded to members of the Nazi Party Schutzstaffel (SS) who had previously served in law enforcement, the Reichswehr, or Der Stahlhelm, Bund der Frontsoldaten (“The Steel Helmet, League of Front-Line Soldiers”).

Notable recipients included Arthur Nebe, recognized for his service as a detective with the Berlin Police Department, and Franz Josef Huber, who had served as a police inspector with the Munich Police Department.

The SS Chevron for Former Police and Military Design

This badge signified prior professional service and was visually similar to the Honor Chevron for the Old Guard, distinguished by a darkened center and a silver service pip.

The average price for an authentic SS Chevron for Former Police and Military typically ranges from $300 to $600 USD, depending on its condition and provenance.

The Hitler Youth Shooting Badge

The Hitler Youth Shooting Badge was awarded in three grades to recognize proficiency in marksmanship within the Hitler Youth.

The Hitler Youth Shooting Badges (or Hitler Jugend Schiessauszeichnungen in German) were awarded in three grades to recognize proficiency in marksmanship within the Hitler Youth.

Each badge was worn on the left breast pocket of the Hitler Youth uniform and had specific design elements to denote the level of proficiency.

The Hitler Youth Shooting Badge Grades and Design

Proficient Shooters (Für Schützen)

    • Instituted: 1936
    • Design: Circular silver and enamel badge shaped like a target, featuring the Hitler Youth emblem in the center, flanked by two crossed rifles.
    • Awards: By the end of 1943, a total of 273,545 badges had been awarded.

Sharpshooters (Für Scharfschützen)

    • Instituted: 1938
    • Design: Similar to the proficient shooters badge but edged with a silver wreath.
    • Awards: By the end of 1943, 31,904 badges had been awarded.

Champion Shots (Für Meisterschützen)

    • Instituted: 1938
    • Design: Similar to the sharpshooters badge but edged with a gilt wreath.
    • Awards: By the end of 1943, only 852 badges had been awarded.

Jungvolk Shooting Badge (Schiessauszeichnunge des Deutsches Jungvolks)

    • Design: Similar to the proficient shooters badge but includes the Jungvolk emblem in front of crossed rifles, with the letters ‘D’ ‘J’ flanking the design.
    • Awards: By the end of 1943, 580,872 badges had been awarded.

Other Hitler Youth Badges

The variety of Hitler Youth badges arose from the organization’s desire to recognize different levels of achievement, service, and merit among its members. These included:

Hitler Youth Information

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The Hitler Youth Proficiency Badge

The Hitler Youth Proficiency Badge was established to recognize members for proficiency in athletics, field craft, and political knowledge.

The Hitler Youth Proficiency Badge (or Leistungsabzeichen der Hitler Jugend in German) was established in June 1934 to recognize Hitler Youth members who demonstrated proficiency in athletics, field craft, and basic political knowledge.

The badge was awarded in different versions based on the age and achievement level of the recipient. It was presented in silver for boys over 17 and in bronze for 16-year-olds. Members of the Jungvolk initially received a black version until 1937 when a distinct Jungvolk badge was introduced.

By the end of 1943, a significant number of these badges had been awarded:

  • Bronze Badges: 103,061
  • Silver Badges: 217,093

These figures highlight the widespread implementation of this award within the Hitler Youth organization as a means to encourage and reward physical and ideological training.

The Hitler Youth Proficiency Badge Design

The obverse of the badge features a swastika encircled by a ring inscribed with ‘Für Leistungen in der HJ’ (For achievements in the HJ) in runic-style script. This design is set against a large tiwaz rune.

The reverse of the badge is numbered and equipped with a pin for attachment to the breast pocket.

Other Hitler Youth Badges

The variety of Hitler Youth badges arose from the organization’s desire to recognize different levels of achievement, service, and merit among its members. These included:

Hitler Youth Information

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The Hitler Youth Leader’s Sports Badge

The Hitler Youth Leader’s Sports Badge was designed to recognize those in the Hitler Youth and Jungvolk who excelled in an annual fitness test.

Instituted in January 1937, the Hitler Youth Leader’s Sports Badge in Gold (or Goldenes Führersportabzeichen der Hitler Jugend in German) was designed to recognize officers in the Hitler Youth and Jungvolk who excelled in an annual fitness test. These tests covered a range of sports and physical activities to assess the fitness and proficiency of the officers. In May 1938, this prestigious badge was officially established to honor those who achieved the highest scores.

Over 11,000 of these badges were awarded, making it a relatively common yet highly regarded decoration among Hitler Youth officers. Each badge was individually numbered, adding a layer of uniqueness to every awarded piece.

The Hitler Youth Leader’s Sports Badge Design

The badge is crafted from copper gilt and features, in the obverse, a prominent swastika at its center. Surrounding the swastika is a ring with the inscription ‘Für Leistungen in der HJ’ (For achievements in the HJ) in runic-style script. This is set in front of a large tiwaz rune, symbolizing the warrior god Tyr, and encircled by a narrow laurel wreath.

The reverse side of the badge is numbered and equipped with a pin, allowing it to be worn on the left breast pocket.

Other Hitler Youth Badges

The variety of Hitler Youth badges arose from the organization’s desire to recognize different levels of achievement, service, and merit among its members. These included:

Hitler Youth Information

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The Hitler Youth Badge for Distinguished Foreigners

The Hitler Youth Badge for Distinguished Foreigners was a special honor authorized in 1941 and specifically designed for non-German citizens.

The Hitler Youth Badge for Distinguished Foreigners (or Ehrenzeichen der Reichsjugendführung der Hitler-Jugend für Verdiente Ausländer in German) was a special honor authorized in 1941. This badge was specifically designed for non-German citizens who had shown significant support for the objectives and activities of the Hitler Youth (Hitler-Jugend).

The badge was intended to acknowledge and reward foreign individuals who contributed to the goals and spread of Nazi ideology through the Hitler Youth organization. These individuals played a role in fostering international support for the Nazi regime and its youth programs, promoting the values and principles of the Hitler Youth outside of Germany.

Instituted during the height of World War II, the badge served both as a diplomatic tool and a symbol of the Nazi Party’s international reach.

The Hitler Youth Badge for Foreigners Designs

The badge is an oval-shaped decoration made from gilt and enamel, reflecting its prestigious nature. The design features a spread eagle perched above the emblem of the Hitler Youth, which is centrally placed. Surrounding the central design is a brown enamel band with the inscription “Hitler Jugend,” signifying its association with the Hitler Youth.

Other Hitler Youth Badges

The variety of Hitler Youth badges arose from the organization’s desire to recognize different levels of achievement, service, and merit among its members. These included:

Hitler Youth Information

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The Hitler Youth Badge

The Hitler Youth Badge was a political award in Nazi Germany, given for various levels of service to the Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend).

The Hitler Youth Badge (or Das Hitler-Jugend-Abzeichen in German) was a political award in Nazi Germany, given for various levels of service to the Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend). Initially created in 1929, formal regulations for its presentation were established from 1933. Several other awards for merit and proficiency were also introduced by the Hitler Youth.

Public display of all Nazi Party awards, including the Hitler Youth badge, was banned after 1945.

The Hitler Youth Badge Grades and Designs

Standard Hitler Youth Badge

This badge denoted membership, particularly for leaders, and could not be worn once the individual left the Hitler Youth. It featured a golden-framed rhomboid with a black swastika in a red and white field, edged in silver.

Golden Hitler Youth Badge

Authorized by Hitler on June 23, 1934, and established by National Youth Leader Baldur von Schirach, this badge recognized leadership, long service, or special achievements. It was awarded to those who joined before October 2, 1932, and completed five years of continuous service. It resembled the standard badge but was edged in gold and could be worn indefinitely, even after leaving the Hitler Youth.

Golden Hitler Youth Badge with Oak Leaves

Instituted in 1935, this badge recognized exceptional services to the Hitler Youth and was awarded to about 250 individuals. It had a higher workmanship and was framed with a narrow border of oak leaves.

The Hitler Youth Badge - Nazi Germany Medals - Interwar & WW2
The Hitler Youth Badge - Badge, obverse.
The Hitler Youth Badge - Gold version, obverse.
The Hitler Youth Badge - Gold version, obverse.
The Hitler Youth Badge - With Oak Leaves version, obverse.
The Hitler Youth Badge - With Oak Leaves version, obverse.

Other Hitler Youth Badges

The variety of Hitler Youth badges arose from the organization’s desire to recognize different levels of achievement, service, and merit among its members. These included:

Hitler Youth Information

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The Police Long Service Award (Nazi Germany)

The Police Long Service Award was a commendation given to active members of the German police during the Nazi era.

The Police Long Service Award (or Polizei-Dienstauszeichnung in German) was a commendation given to active members of the German police during the Nazi era. Designed by Professor Richard Klein, the awards varied slightly depending on the length of service.

On January 30, 1938, Adolf Hitler instituted the Police Long Service Award to recognize police personnel based on their years of service. The awards were issued in three grades for eight, eighteen, and twenty-five years of service. 

Eligibility required active membership in the police force or administrative service, with military service time also counting towards the total service duration.

The Police Long Service Award Design

Each medal featured the police insignia—a national eagle emblem surrounded by a wreath—on the obverse, with the inscription “Für treue Dienste in der Polizei” (“For faithful service in the Police”) on the reverse.

Eight-Year Award:

    • Design: Silver, round medal, 38 mm in diameter.
    • Ribbon: Cornflower blue, 35 mm wide.
    • Obverse: Police insignia.
    • Reverse: Number 8 with the inscription “Für treue Dienste in der Polizei.”

Eighteen-Year Award:

    • Design: Silver-gray four-pointed cross (Ordenskreuz), 43 mm in size.
    • Ribbon: Cornflower blue with a woven police insignia, varying in width (37 mm or 51 mm).
    • Obverse: Police insignia.
    • Reverse: Inscription “Für treue Dienste in der Polizei.”

Twenty-Five-Year Award:

    • Design: Gold four-pointed cross (Ordenskreuz), similar to the eighteen-year award but in gold.
    • Presentation Case: Green simulated leather with the number 18 or 25 embossed on the top. Inside, the case had a white satin lid and a velvet lower portion.

On August 12, 1944, a higher grade was authorized for forty years of service, designed as a gold metal bar with the number 40 and oak leaves, to be affixed to the ribbon of the twenty-five-year award. However, there is no record of this being awarded before the end of World War II.

The SS Long Service Award (25 Years of Service)

The SS Long Service Awards were given to SS members in grades of four, eight, twelve, and twenty-five years of service.

The SS Long Service Awards (or SS-Dienstauszeichnungen in German) were given in grades of four years, eight years, twelve years, and twenty-five years as an acknowledgment for faithful and true services of SS members in the SS-Verfügungstruppen (SS Dispositional Troops), SS-Totenkopfverbänden (Death’s Head Units) und SS-Junkerschulen (Junker Schools). It was first introduced by Adolf Hitler on 30 January 1938.

The SS Long Service Award for 25 years of service was the highest class of the SS long service awards, specifically designed to honor members of the SS who had dedicated a quarter-century to the organization.

The SS Long Service Awards Grades or Classes

The grades are awarded to the respective ranks as follows:

  • 1st Class (Gold) for 25 years true service awards to eligible Officers, NCO’s and Men
  • 2nd Class (Silver) for 12 years true service awards to eligible Officers, NCO’s and Men
  • 3th Class (Bronze) for 8 years true service awards to eligible Officers, NCO’s and Men
  • 4th Class (Black) for 4 yrs true service for eligible NCO’s and Men.

The SS Long Service Award for 25 years of service was awarded to officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs), and enlisted men, recognizing their prolonged commitment and loyalty to the SS and the Nazi Party over a significant part of their careers.

The four-year and eight-year awards were the most common awards, and despite the fact that the Nazi movement lasted for little over 25 years, awards of the 25-year version were made well before 25 years of actual service were completed. This was because Kampfzeit (or “Time of Struggle”) counted double. Nevertheless, this was one of the rarer awards given out by Nazi Germany.

The SS Long Service Awards Design

The SS service awards were designed in Munich by Professor Karl Diebitsch, an artist and the Schutzstaffel (SS) officer responsible for designing much of the SS regalia in the Third Reich, including the chained SS officer’s dagger scabbard.

On its reverse side, each award had emblazoned the inscription, in German: FÜR TREUE DIENSTE IN DER SS (“For Loyal Service in the SS”). 

The awards varied in design depending on the length of service of the recipient, and the branches of the Wehrmacht (Luftwaffe, Heer and Kriegsmarine) had different insignia. The Nazi Party and German Police also had a similar service award.

The twenty-five-year service award was designed in the shape of a swastika, featuring a gold finish. It was bestowed upon all officers, non-commissioned officers (NCOs), and enlisted men in recognition of their long-term service.

The German Order (WW2)

The German Order was the highest honor the Nazi Party could confer on an individual for exceptional services to the state and party.

The German Order (or Deutscher Orden in German) was the highest honor the Nazi Party could confer on an individual for exceptional services to the state and party.

Designed by Benno von Arent, it was first awarded posthumously by Adolf Hitler to Reichsminister Fritz Todt at Todt’s funeral in February 1942. A second posthumous award was given to SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich during his funeral in June of the same year.

Due to its frequent posthumous bestowal, it was cynically referred to as the “dead hero order.” The only two recipients who survived the war were Konstantin Hierl and Artur Axmann.

Hitler viewed the German Order as his personal decoration, reserved for those whose contributions he deemed exceptionally valuable to the state, party, and people. This exclusivity, combined with the presence of Hitler’s facsimile signature on the reverse, led to it being informally known as the “Hitler Order.” The awardees were intended to form a special confraternity, symbolizing their distinguished status within the Nazi regime.

The German Order Design

The German Order’s design incorporated elements reminiscent of the Iron Cross and the Order of the German Eagle.

It featured a black enamel cross measuring 48.5 mm across, with a central medallion of 20.5 mm. Between the cross’s arms were national eagles with furled wings, each clutching a wreath. The center displayed the Golden Party Badge.

The design was inspired by the regalia of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, the Marian Cross, theKnight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, and the Knight of Justice of the Order of St. John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg). Although intended to be awarded in three grades, only the neck order (the highest grade) was ever issued. It is considered the second rarest Nazi Germany award after the National Prize for Art and Science.

The Honor Chevron for the Old Guard

The Honor Chevron for the Old Guard was a decoration worn by members of the Nazi Party’s SS. It was nstituted by Adolf Hitler in 1934.

The Honor Chevron for the Old Guard (or Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kämpfer in German) was a distinctive decoration worn by members of the Nazi Party’s SS. Instituted by Adolf Hitler in February 1934, this silver chevron was worn on the upper right sleeve and signified early membership in the Nazi movement.

This chevron was awarded to all members of the SS who had joined the Allgemeine SS, the NSDAP, or any other affiliated party organization before January 30, 1933. This date marked the Nazi Party’s rise to power, and thus early membership was highly prized as a sign of loyalty and commitment to the party’s cause.

Following the Anschluss, the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938, the eligibility for the Honor Chevron was extended. Austrians who had joined the Austrian National Socialist Workers’ Party (DNSAP) before February 18, 1938, were also entitled to wear the insignia. Additionally, this decoration was later made available to former members of various Nazi security services, the Ordnungspolizei (order police), and the Wehrmacht, provided they met specific criteria.

The Honor Chevron for the Old Guard Design and Wear

The Honor Chevron for the Old Guard served not only as a mark of early and dedicated support for the Nazi Party but also as a symbol of elite status within the SS and other Nazi organizations. Its display on the uniform was a visible indication of the wearer’s longstanding loyalty to Hitler and the Nazi ideology.