Awards and decorations of Nazi Germany
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Between 1933 and 1945, the Nation State of Nazi Germany created and bestowed a new era of military decorations which have since become synonymous with the entity known as the Third Reich. The Awards and Decorations of Nazi Germany have been a subject of historical study, layman curiousity, as well as professional militaria collecting.
Of the hundreds of Nazi military and civil awards, the following is a list of those which were most commonly bestowed.
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Military Decorations
- Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (Never bestowed during the Second World War)
- Grand Cross of the Iron Cross
- Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oakleaves, Swords, and Diamonds
- Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves, Swords, and Diamonds
- Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves and Swords
- Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves
- Knights Cross of the Iron Cross
- Iron Cross First Class
- Iron Cross Second Class
- 1939 Clasp to the Iron Cross
- German Cross in Gold
- German Cross in Silver
- Military Honor Roll Clasp (Awarded for Army, Navy, and Air Force)
Military Service Decorations
- Golden Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross (Awarded with and without Swords)
- Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross (Awarded with and without Swords)
- War Merit Cross (Awarded with and without Swords)
- War Merit Medal
- Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds
- Spanish Cross in Gold, Silver, and Bronze (Awarded with and without Swords)
- Spanish Cross for Next of Kin of Fallen
- Military Long Service Award (Awarded for Army, Navy, and Air Force)
- Awarded in grades of 4,12,18,25,and 40 Years of Service
- Awarded in grades of 4,12,18,and 25 Years of Service
- Cross of Honor (1914-1918)
- Anschluss Medal
- Sudentenland Medal (Upgradeable to include Prague Castle Bar)
- Memel Medal
- Eastern Front Medal
- Blue Division Medal
- West Wall Medal
- Ostvolk Decoration 1st Class (Awarded in Gold and Silver with and without Swords)
- Ostvolk Decoration 2nd Class (Awarded in Gold, Silver, and Bronze with and without Swords)
Arm Shields and Cuffbands
- Narvik Shield
- Cholm Shield
- Crimea Shield
- Demjansk Shield
- Kuban Shield
- Lappland Shield
- Crete Cuffband
- Africa Cuffband
- Kurland Cuffband
Wound Badges
- Wound Badge of 20 July 1944
- Spanish Wound Badge (Awarded in Gold, Silver, and Black)
- 1939 Wound Badge (Awarded in Gold, Silver, and Black)
War Badges
- Infantry Assault Badge (Silver and Bronze)
- Close Combat Badge (Gold, Silver, and Bronze)
- Army Paratrooper Badge
- Tank Battle Badge (Silver and Bronze)
- Tank Destruction Badge (Gold and Silver)
- General Assault Badge
- Army Anti-Aircraft Badge
- Anti-Partisan Guerrilla Warfare Badge
- Ballon Observer's Badge
- Sniper's Badge
- Front Line Driver's Badge (Gold, Silver, and Bronze)
- Condor Legion Tank Badge
- Commemorative Tank Badge of the Great War
Naval War Badges
- U-Boat Badge
- Destroyer Badge
- Minesweeper Badge
- Blockade Breaker Badge
- Auxiliary Cruiser Badge
- High Seas Fleet Badge
- E-Boat Badge
- Coastal Artillery Defense Badge
- U-Boat Combat Clasp (Gold and Silver)
All Naval War Badges could be upgraded to include Diamonds
Luftwaffe Badges
- Combined Pilot/Observer Badge with Diamonds
- Combined Pilot/Observer Badge
- Pilot's Badge
- Aircrew Badge
- Observer Badge
- Glider Pilot Badge
- Radio Operator Badge
- Air Gunner Badge
- Luftwaffe Paratrooper Badge
- Anti-Aircraft Flak Battle Badge
- Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge
- Retired Aircrew Badge
Luftwaffe Flying Clasps
Luftwaffe Flying Clasps were awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. Pennants suspended from the clasp indicated the number of missions obtained in a given type of aircraft. Flying Clasps were issued for missions completed in the following Luftwaffe aircraft
- Day Fighters
- Night Fighters
- Long Range Day Fighters
- Air to Ground Support Fighters
- Bombers
- Reconnaissance
- Transport and Glider
Political Decorations
- The German Order (Awarded with and without Swords)
- The Blood Order
- Golden Nazi Party Badge
- Coburg Badge
- 1929 Nuremberg Party Day Badge
- Brunswick Rally Badge
- Frontbann Badge
- Danzig Cross 1st Class
- Danzig Cross 2nd Class
- NSDAP Service Ribbon
- Awarded for 10, 15, and 25 years of service
- Honor Chevron of the Old Guard
- Steel Helmet Veterans Memorial Badge
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. Such Gau Badges were issued in Silver and Gold with some issuances in Bronze. Very rarely were Gau Badges issued in Gold with Diamonds. The following is a list of the Nazi Gau badges.
- Standard Gau Badge
- Munich Gau Badge
- Berlin Gau Badge
- Thuringia Gau Badge
- East Hannover Gau Badge
- East Prussia Gau Badge
- Baden Gau Badge
- Essen Gau Badge
- Danzig Gau Badge
- Wartheland Gau Badge
- Sudentenland Gau Badge
S.S. and Police Decorations
- Germanic Proficiency Runes (Silver and Bronze)
- S.S. Chevron for Former Police
- S.S. Membership Runes for Order Police
- Police Service Ribbon
- Awarded for 8, 18, and 25 years of service
NSDAP Flyer Corps Decorations
- Powered Aircraft Badge
- Glider Pilot's Badge
- Balloon Pilot's Badge
Hitler Youth Decorations
- Golden Hitler Youth Badge with Oakleaves
- Golden Hitler Youth Badge
- Hitler Youth Badge for Distinguished Foreigners
- Hitler Youth Leader's Sports Badge
- Hitler Youth Skier Badge
- Hitler Youth Marksmanship Badge
- Hitler Youth Proficiency Badge
German Youth Decorations
- German Young League Marksmanship Badge
- German Young League Proficiency Badge
- German Maiden League (BDM) Proficiency Badge
- German Young Maiden (JM) Proficiency Badge
- National Youth Sports Badge
- National Youth Trade Competition Badge
Sports Decorations
- SA Sports Badge (Gold, Silver, and Bronze)
- SA Sports Badge for War Wounded
- Olympic Games Decoration (First and Second Classes)
- Olympic Games Medal
- German National Sports Badge
- German Horseman Badge (Gold, Silver, and Bronze)
- Expert Horseman Badge
- Horse Driver's Badge
- German Swimming League Death's Head Swim Badge
Civil Awards
- German National Prize for Art and Science
- Badge for the Academy of Aeronautical Research
- National Senate of Culture Badge
- Goethe Medallion for Art and Science
- National Food Estate Medallion
- Social Welfare Decoration (First, Second, and Third Classes)
- Medal of Social Welfare
- Civil Service Faithful Serivce Medal (50, 40, and 25 years of service)
- Cross of Honor of the German Mother (Bronze, Silver, and Gold)
- Lifesaving Medallion
- Fire Brigade Decoration (First and Second Classes)
- Mine Rescue Medal
- Civil Defense Decorations (First and Second Classes)
Labor and Trade Decorations
- Pioneer of Labor Award
- Fritz Todt Award
- Defense Economy Leader's Badge
- Customs Service Decoration
- Labor Service Ribbon (25, 18, 12, and 4 years of service)
Red Cross Awards
- Star of the Grand Cross of the Red Cross
- Grand Cross of the Red Cross
- Red Cross Decoration First Class
- Red Cross Decoration Second Class
- Red Cross Medal
Diplomatic Awards
- Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle
- Special Grade Order of the German Eagle
- Order of the German Eagle (Five Classes)
- Medal of the Order of the German Eagle (Silver and Bronze)
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.