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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 authorised for wear on any paramilitary uniform of Nazi Germany, as well as civilian attire, but were generally discouraged (but not forbidden) on Wehrmacht military uniforms. The Waffen-SS freely wore both political awards and military decorations on their uniforms.

Decorations of the NSDAP. Plate from Organisationsbuch der NSDAP, 1943
* Golden Party Badge, small version for wear on suit jacket; Blood Order; Golden Party Badge, large version for wear in uniform* Nazi Party Long Service Award (bronze, silver with women's ribbon, gold with ribbon bar);* Coburg Badge; Nuremberg Party Day Badge; Brunswick Rally Badge

Civil decorations were considered the lowest order of medals, after military decorations and political decorations of the Nazi Party. Civil decorations were authorised for display on civilian clothing and paramilitary uniforms of the Nazi Party; however, their wear was often prohibited on active duty military uniforms of the Wehrmacht; the notable exception to this were sports badges, which were granted the same status as military qualification awards.

The public wear of all Nazi Party awards was banned in Germany after 1945.[1]

Political decorations

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The various degrees of Nazi Party decorations were as follows:

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

German Order

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Main article: German Order (distinction)

This was the highest award that the Nazi Party could bestow on an individual. Adolf Hitler regarded this award as his personal decoration to be bestowed only upon those whose services to the state, party, and the people, he deemed worthy. There were eleven confirmed recipients of this award between 1942 and 1945.[2][3]

Golden Party Badge

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Main article: 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 #7). 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.[4]

Blood Order medal

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Main article: Blood Order

The Blood Order (German: Blutorden), officially known as the "Decoration in Memory (of the Munich putsch) of 9 November 1923" (Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 9. November 1923), authorised by Hitler in March 1934, was one of the most prestigious decorations in the Nazi Party.[5]

Party awards

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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 organisation. The badges were issued in silver and gold, with some in bronze. They were rarely issued in gold with diamonds.[6]

In November 1936, Hitler gave new "orders" as to the "Orders and Awards" of the Nazi Party to be bestowed. The top NSDAP awards are listed in the order: 1. Coburg Badge; 2. Nuremberg Party Day Badge; 3. Brunswick Rally Badge; 4. Golden Party Badge; 5. The Blood Order; followed by the Gau badges and the Golden Hitler Youth Badge.[7]

SS and police decorations

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Germanic SS decorations

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Awards specific to individual nationalistic Germanic SS organisations were as follows:[6]

SA decorations

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NSFK decorations

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Hitler Youth decorations

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Hitler Youth awards were as follows:[9]

Other German sports decorations

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Civil awards

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Diplomatic awards

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All German Eagle decorations were awarded both with and without swords and could be upgraded to a gold version and also gold with diamonds. The German Eagle was intended as an award for foreigners while the Special Grade (without degree) was awarded to Germans.

Labor and trade decorations

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German Red Cross awards

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Notes

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  1. ^ Littlejohn & Dodkins 1968, p. 224.
  2. ^ Angolia 1989, p. 224.
  3. ^ Gerwarth 2011, p. 279.
  4. ^ Angolia 1989, pp. 178–179.
  5. ^ Doehle 1995, p. 71.
  6. ^ a b Lumsden 2001.
  7. ^ Angolia 1989, p. 197.
  8. ^ a b c Doehle 1995, p. 122.
  9. ^ Littlejohn & Dodkins 1968, pp. 94–106.

References

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  • 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.
  • Gerwarth, Robert (2011). Hitler's Hangman: The Life of Heydrich. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-11575-8.
  • Littlejohn, David; Dodkins, Colonel C. M. (1968). Orders, Decorations, Medals and Badges of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing, California. ISBN 978-0854200801.
  • Lumsden, Robin (2001). Medals and Decorations of Hitler's Germany. Zenith Books, Osceola, Wisconsin. ISBN 0760311331.
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