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Tag: Nazi Germany

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.

The Nuremberg Party Day Badge

The Nuremberg Party Day Badge was a highly esteemed political decoration within the NSDAP and the second national award of the party.

The Nuremberg Party Day Badge (or Das Nürnberger Parteiabzeichen von 1929 in German) was a highly esteemed political decoration within the Nazi Party (NSDAP). Recognized as the second national award of the party, it was established through regulations on November 6, 1936, to commemorate the 4th Reichsparteitag (National Party Day) held in Nuremberg from August 1-4, 1929.

Also referred to as the “1929 Nürnberg Party Badge,” this special honor badge was awarded to Nazi Party members who attended the 1929 national rally in Nuremberg. The badge symbolized the “Old Guard” and was prominently worn by high-ranking Nazi leaders, including Adolf Hitler, during subsequent rallies in Nuremberg. Permission to wear the badge was granted by the Gauleiter (Senior district leader), and the right to wear it could be revoked by Hitler or Martin Bormann, the chief of the Nazi Party Chancellery.

In a 1936 order by Hitler regarding Nazi awards, the Nuremberg Party Badge was ranked second, preceded only by the Coburg Badge and followed by the SA Rally Badge of 1931, the Golden Party Badge, and the Blood Order.

The Nuremberg Party Day Badge Design

The badge was to be worn on the left breast side of a uniform and measured 21mm wide by 48mm high. It featured the Nuremberg Castle at the top with the word “Nürnberg” underneath. An eagle perched atop a helmet was depicted in the center, with inscriptions around it reading “1914-1919” and “N.S.D.A.P. 1929 Partei Tag.”

The Danzig Cross

The Danzig Cross or Danziger Kreuz was a Nazi decoration established in the Free City of Danzig prior to its incorporation into Germany.

The Danzig Cross (or Danziger Kreuz in German) was a Nazi decoration established in the Free City of Danzig. Instituted on August 31, 1939, by Danzig Gauleiter Albert Forster, this decoration recognized individuals who contributed significantly to the development of the Nazi Party in Danzig prior to its incorporation into Germany on September 1, 1939.

By December 1939, a total of 88 first-class crosses and 253 second-class crosses had been awarded, most during a ceremony on October 24, 1939. Among the recipients was Hans Frank, who received his award on May 19, 1940.

As a decoration from the National Socialist government of Danzig, the Danzig Cross was recognized as an official state award and could be worn on both Nazi Party and Wehrmacht uniforms. After Germany’s defeat in 1945, all Nazi-era decorations were banned. The Danzig Cross was not re-authorized for wear by the Federal Republic of Germany in 1957.

The Danzig Cross Design

The Danzig Cross was designed by Benno von Arent. The cross featured elongated upper and lower arms and was crafted from white enamel with gilt outlines. The top arm and center displayed the coronet and twin cross from the Danzig coat of arms, also in gilt. The reverse side of the cross was plain, marked by the manufacturer Huelse Berlin.

  • Second Class Cross: Measures 43mm in height and 31mm in width. It is attached to a red ribbon with yellow and white stripes along its edges.
  • First Class Cross: Slightly larger at 60mm by 44mm, it is convex and features a pin on the reverse, allowing it to be worn on the left side of the jacket.

The Brunswick Rally Badge

The Brunswick Rally Badge was established in 1936 and was the third badge to be recognized as a national award by the Nazi Party (NSDAP).

The Brunswick Rally Badge, officially known as the Badge of the SA Rally at Brunswick 1931 (or Das Abzeichen vom SA – Treffen in Braunschweig 1931 in German), was the third badge to be recognized as a national award by the Nazi Party (NSDAP).

Established through regulations issued on November 6, 1936, this special Party Honor Badge commemorated the SA Assembly in Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, held on October 17-18, 1931.

The Rally Event

The Brunswick rally was a significant joint event involving members of the Sturmabteilung (SA) and Schutzstaffel (SS). It aimed to demonstrate the strength and solidarity of these paramilitary groups in a Germany weary from internal strife and political instability.

Held before Adolf Hitler became Chancellor in January 1933, the rally saw a massive participation of 104,000 SA and SS men who marched in a six-hour parade reviewed by Hitler. This event also marked the first inspection of the SA Motor and National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK) units.

The rally was organized by SA-Gruppe Nord under the leadership of then SA-Gruppenführer Viktor Lutze. During the event, the SA pledged their loyalty to Hitler, who in turn expanded the SA by creating 24 new Standarten (regiment-sized formations). Hitler later rewarded Lutze’s loyalty by appointing him as the commander of the SA in 1934, following the purge of Ernst Röhm during the Night of the Long Knives.

The Brunswick Rally Badge Design

The Brunswick Rally Badge was created to commemorate this large-scale rally and honor its participants. To qualify for purchasing and wearing the badge, one had to have officially attended the rally. The badge was worn on the left breast of the uniform and was made in two patterns.

  • Pattern 1: Measuring 37mm wide by 50mm high, it featured the Party eagle at the top and an oak leaf wreath around the edge, with a bow at the bottom. Inside the wreath was inscribed “S—A Treffen Braunschweig 17./18. Oktober 1931.”
  • Pattern 2: Slightly larger at 37mm wide by 52mm high, it retained the same basic design as the first pattern. Early badges were stamped out of tin and silver in color, while later ones were stamped with a solid back and were grey.

Permission to wear the badge had to be confirmed by a senior SA Party leader or higher, and the authorization to wear it could be revoked by SA-Stabschef Viktor Lutze or his successors.

The Frontbann Badge

The Frontbann Badge was introduced in 1932 by the SA Group Berlin-Brandenburg to honor the members of the Frontbann organization.

The Frontbann Badge (or Frontbannabzeichen in German) was introduced in 1932 by the SA Group Berlin-Brandenburg to honor the members of the Frontbann organization.

This badge was awarded to individuals who had joined the Frontbann before December 31, 1927, and who also had been members of the Nazi Party or another right-wing paramilitary group prior to that date. 

In 1933, it was officially recognized as a Nazi Party decoration. However, by the end of 1934, the badge was no longer authorized for wear by members of the NSDAP.

The Frontbann Badge Design

The badge was made of silver, featured a pin-back, and measured 20 mm in diameter.

Its design included a swastika with a German helmet at the center, and the inscription “WIR-WOLLEN-FREI-WERDEN” (“We want to be free”) on the arms of the swastika.

The Nazi Party Long Service Award

The Nazi Party Long Service Award was a distinguished political decoration presented in the form of a badge by the Nazi Party.

The Nazi Party Long Service Award, officially known as Die Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in German, was a distinguished political decoration presented in the form of a badge by the Nazi Party.

Instituted on April 2, 1939, by Adolf Hitler, this award recognized long-term service of male and female members of the NSDAP. The decoration was first bestowed on January 30, 1940. 

Due to the Nazi Party’s relatively short existence (1920–1945), the awards were granted before the actual service years were completed. The period from February 1925 to January 1933 was considered the “Kampfzeit” (Time of Struggle), and service during this time was counted double. Continuous service in any Nazi Party organization or formation qualified, with exceptions for up to two years of compulsory military service, military service against the Republican Government in the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), and German military service post-September 1939.

The Nazi Party Long Service Award Classes

The award featured three classes: ten years (bronze), fifteen years (silver), and twenty-five years (gold).

Ten-Year Award: The ten-year service medal (3rd class) was a bronze medal measuring 43mm, suspended from a dark brown ribbon with two narrow white side stripes. The reverse side featured raised lettering.

Fifteen-Year Award: The fifteen-year service medal (2nd class) had a similar design but was plated in silver and featured dark blue enamel on the cross arms and the center section. The reverse side inscription was in blue enamel with silver lettering. The ribbon was blue with two narrow silver-gray side stripes.

Twenty-Five-Year Award: The twenty-five-year service medal (1st class) was gold-plated with white enamel on the cross arms and center section. The reverse inscription was white enamel with gold lettering. The ribbon was red with white edge stripes and a small gold center stripe. This medal was sometimes awarded posthumously.

Nazi Party Long Service Award - 25 Years.
Nazi Party Long Service Award - 10 Years.
The Nazi Party Long Service Award - Germany Medals, Interwar
The Nazi Party Long Service Award - 15 Years.
Nazi Party Long Service Award - 25 Years.
Nazi Party Long Service Award - 25 Years.

The Nazi Party Long Service Award Design

Each medal bore the inscription “Treue für Führer und Volk” (Loyalty to Leader and People) on the reverse side. The service award was a four-pointed cross with slightly curved arms, featuring a national eagle and an oak leaf wreath at the center.

When awarded to men, the medals were worn on the left breast pocket medal bar. Women wore the award as a neck order or a brooch medal from a 15mm ribbon. On the small ribbon bar, the ribbon included a small national eagle within a wreath in the class-specific color.

All three classes could be worn simultaneously.

The Blood Order or Blutorden

The Blood Order or Blutorden was a highly prestigious Nazi Party decoration established by Adolf Hitler in March 1934.

The Blood Order (or Blutorden in German), formally known as the Decoration in Memory of 9 November 1923 (Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 9. November 1923), was a highly prestigious Nazi Party decoration.

Established by Adolf Hitler in March 1934, it commemorated the failed Beer Hall Putsch of November 9, 1923. 

Initially, the Blood Order was awarded to 1,500 putsch participants who were members of the Nazi Party or its formations before January 1932, or cadets from the Munich Infantry School. These first medals, made of 99% pure silver, were carefully numbered except for those given to Hitler and Göring. Recipients wore the ribbon on the right breast in a rosette form, with the medal sometimes pinned below.

In May 1938, eligibility expanded to include those imprisoned or sentenced to death for Nazi activities before 1933, those severely wounded in service of the Party, Austrian Nazi participants in the 1934 July Putsch, and others at Hitler’s discretion. Reinhard Heydrich was the last posthumous recipient.

The Blood Order or Blutorden Rank

Holders who left the Nazi Party had to return the medal. Among the recipients were 16 women, with fewer than 6,000 total awards given, including the original putsch participants and those from the 1938 extensions.

Hitler’s 1936 “Orders and Awards” decree ranked the Blood Order fifth among top NSDAP honors, after the Coburg Badge, Nürnberg Party Badge of 1929, SA Treffen at Brunswick 1931, and the Golden Party Badge, followed by Gau badges and the Golden HJ Badge.

The Blood Order or Blutorden Design

The medal is silver, featuring an eagle clutching an oak wreath with the date “9. Nov” and “München 1923–1933” inscribed on the obverse. The later medals, struck in 80% silver, carried serial numbers above 1500 and lacked the maker’s name, unlike the initial Type I medals. 

The reverse shows the Feldherrnhalle entrance, a swastika with sun rays, and the motto “UND IHR HABT DOCH GESIEGT” (“And after all, you won”).

The SS Edelweiss Cap Badge

The SS Edelweiss Cap Badge was an award given by the Third Reich regime to Waffen-SS Mountain Troops serving in Norway.

The SS Edelweiss Cap Badge was an award established on 15th April 1941 and given by the Third Reich regime to Waffen-SS Mountain Troops serving in Norway.

In October 1940, Waffen-SS Mountain Troops stationed in Norway began wearing Army-style attire. Subsequently, on April 15, 1941, authorization was extended to all SS-Mountain Troops to don the Mountain Cap.

The choice of the Edelweiss was deliberate, as it thrives in the challenging conditions of high Alpine elevations, symbolizing resilience and fortitude.

The SS Edelweiss Cap Badge Design

The Officer’s Edelweiss badge was crafted from either bullion or aluminum thread, reflecting superior quality. In contrast, badges for Non-Commissioned Officers and enlisted men were of lesser quality and made from regular thread.

The Edelweiss Badge was affixed to the left side of the cap. The emblem held significant symbolism, not only representing the German mountain troops but also embodying qualities of bravery and courage.