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 civilian attire, but were generally frowned upon for display (but not actually forbidden) on active duty military uniforms of the Wehrmacht. The one exception to this were the uniforms of the Waffen-SS, which freely mixed political awards and military decorations.

The various degrees of Nazi Party decorations are as follows:

Political decorations

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

Eagle of Sovereignty Pin

The Eagle of Sovereignty Pin was a special award of the Nazi Party which was intended to be held solely by Adolf Hitler. The pin was intended to denote Hitler's position as Führer of the Party and was worn as a lapel pin on a civilian jacket. The decoration was discontinued in 1934 after the Night of the Long Knives. Thereafter, Hitler regularly displayed the Golden Party Badge.[1]

Golden Nazi Party Badge

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 Nazi Party Badge (Goldenes Parteiabzeichen), shown above. Those badges had the recipient's membership number on the back (Adolf Hitler had badge #1). 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.[2]

In April 1945, Magda Goebbels was presented with Hitler's Golden Party Badge and declared as "First Mother of the Reich". Under Nazi law, Hitler's verbal decree had technically created a new grade to the Nazi Party Badge, although status as an officially recognized decoration was never recorded.

Other Nazi badges

Given in three grades; awarded for 10, 15, and 25 years of service
Designated those who joined the Party before Hitler became Chancellor. It was worn on the right sleeve.
For membership in the Stahlhelm, Bund der Frontsoldaten.

Gau decorations

The leaders of Nazi policial districts (known as the Gauleiter) were empowered to bestow Gau Badges for a variety of services rendered to the local political organization. The badges were issued in Silver and Gold with some issuance in Bronze. They were rarely issued in Gold with Diamonds.

SS and Police decorations

SA decorations

Germanic-SS decorations

Although not an actual award of the Germanic-SS, the SS belt buckle of the Flemish-SS was presented only after certain entry level achievements had been completed for membership.

NSDAP Flyer Corps decorations

Hitler Youth decorations

References

  1. ↑ Speer, Albert (1970). Inside the Third Reich, Macmillan: New York and Toronto, ISBN 0-297-00015-2
  2. ↑ Angolia, John (1989). For Führer and Fatherland: Political & Civil Awards of the Third Reich, R. James Bender Publishing, pp. 178-179. ISBN 0-912138-16-5

External links

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