Order of the German Eagle

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Order of Merit of the German Eagle (1st model); Source: Der Deutsche Adler Orden (1. Modell)
Order of Merit of the German Eagle (2nd model), in: Signal (Norwegian language edition), September 1942, No. 17, p. 31.

The Order of Merit of the German Eagle or Meritory Order of the German Eagle (German: Verdienstorden vom Deutschen Adler), as of 1943 German Eagle Order (German: Deutscher Adlerorden; DAO), was an award of Nationalist Socialist Germany, predominantly to foreign heads of state and diplomats who had rendered outstanding services to the German Reich, at the suggestion of the Reich Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Order was instituted on 1 May 1937 by Adolf Hitler.[1] It must not be confused with the German Order of the Greater German Reich.

History

Medals of Merit
Germanophilist Henry Ford receiving the Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle on 30 July 1938 in Ford's main office at the Dearborn Engineering Laboratory in recognition of his "pioneering in making motor cars available for the masses." Ford was the first American and the fourth person (Benito Mussolini was another) to receive the award created by Hitler in 1937, the highest honor the Reich could bestow upon a foreigner; On the right is Karl Kapp, German Consul General in Cleveland, Ohio, and on the left Fritz Hailer (an American citizen of German heritage), German consular representative in Detroit, Michigan (Honorary Consul as of 1935).
Left: Chicago Tribune, 24 November 1938
President of the Finnish women's organization “Lotta Svärd”, Fanni Maria Luukkonen: On Wednesday, 19 May 1943, the Führer received the President of the Finnish women’s organization “Lotta Svärd,” Fanni Luukkonen, who is currently in Germany at the invitation of the Reich Women’s Leader, and presented her with a gift in recognition of the outstanding commitment of the Finnish women’s organization in the joint fight for freedom and against Bolshevism: the “Cross of Merit of the Order of the German Eagle with Star.”

The Weimar Republic had stipulated in its constitution of 1919 that it did not want to award or establish medals. These provisions also included decorations and medals that were donated and awarded for civilian merit. It was only during the course of the Reich that exceptions were made, for example with rescue medals. After National Socialism came to power in 1933, this only changed in that decorations were donated by the Reich and the states, but no medal was created. This is partly based on leftist ideological reasons; There was also no need to continue the monarchical tradition of the federal states until 1918 (albeit a new tradition of medal awarding was instituted by Paul von Hindenburg in 1934 with the Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918).

On the other hand, it proved to be impractical to accept medals when dealing with foreign countries but not be able to award medals according to the principle of reciprocity. This is how the idea came about to establish an order exclusively for foreigners, with the Summer Olympic Games 1936 providing the impetus. The German Olympic Medal of Honor was created for this purpose, but it could no longer be awarded after the Games had ended.

With the decree of the Führer and Reich Chancellor regarding the foundation of the “Order of Merit of the German Eagle” of 1 May 1937, a new chapter in the history of the German order was opened. The purpose of this order was to honor foreign citizens “who have rendered outstanding services to the German Reich”.

The order had five grades and a medal at the foundation; it was primarily intended to be awarded to civilians. Military personnel such as foreign military attachés, leading foreign military figures, etc. received the same medal as civilians.

The Cross is based on the Maltese cross with German Reich Eagles (Reichsadler) at each corner carrying a swastika. For military recipients the Order also featured crossed swords. The cross was suspended from a 46 mm red ribbon with stripes in black, red and white. The award, in the first two grades, also came in the form of a silver or gold eight pointed star, with corresponding white Maltese Cross and gold eagles centered. The overall appearance and name of the Order resembled the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle, Order of the Red Eagle and Bailiwick of Brandenburg Order of Saint John (Johanniter-Orden).

Grades/Classes

Meritory Order of the German Eagle.jpg

1937 to 1939

From 1 May 1937 to 19 April 1939 the Order was presented in six grades (Stufen):

  • Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle with Star (Großkreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens)
    • A unique Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the German Eagle in Gold with Diamonds (Großkreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens in Gold und Brillanten) was also awarded to Benito Mussolini on 25 September 1937
  • Order of the German Eagle with Star (Deutscher Adlerorden mit Stern)
  • Order of the German Eagle 1st Grade (Deutscher Adlerorden, Erste Stufe)
  • Order of the German Eagle 2nd Grade (Deutscher Adlerorden, Zweite Stufe)
  • Order of the German Eagle 3rd Grade (Deutscher Adlerorden, Dritte Stufe)
  • German Medal of Merit (Deutsche Verdienstmedaille)

1939 to 1943

On 29 April 1939, the statutes dividing the order were expanded. The special level of the Grand Cross in gold was introduced, the maximum number of which was set at 16 holders. Furthermore, the Reich Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Reich Protector in Bohemia and Moravia wore this special grade (Sonderstufe) on special occasions (state receptions, etc.). The most important change, however, was the introduction of swords, which were only to be awarded for military service to the German Reich. Accordingly, the current classification was:

1943 to 1944

On 27 December 1943, the Order was reorganised into nine grades:

  1. Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle in Gold with Star (Goldenes Großkreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens)
  2. Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle with Star (Großkreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens)
  3. Order of the German Eagle 1st Grade (Deutscher Adlerorden, Erste Stufe)
  4. Order of the German Eagle 2nd Grade (Deutscher Adlerorden, Zweite Stufe)
  5. Order of the German Eagle 3rd Grade (Deutscher Adlerorden, Dritte Stufe)
  6. Order of the German Eagle 4th Grade (Deutscher Adlerorden, Vierte Stufe)
  7. Order of the German Eagle 5th Grade (Deutscher Adlerorden, Fünfte Stufe)
  8. Silver Medal of Merit (Silberne Verdienstmedaille)
  9. Bronze Medal of Merit (Bronzene Verdienstmedaille)

1944 to 1945

5 January 1944

The last change to the statutes of the German Eagle Order is the renaming of the previously used gardes into "classes". Until the end of the war, the class division of the order was as follows:

  • Grand Cross of the German Eagle Order in Gold (special class with and without swords)
    • The Golden Grand Cross has a diameter of 66 mm and is an eight-pointed, white-enameled, gold-framed cross, at each corner of which there is a golden sovereign eagle with lowered wings on an oak leaf wreath surrounding the swastika. Any additional swords awarded are crossed in the middle of the cross. The Golden Grand Cross was worn on a 100 mm wide ribbon that ran from the right shoulder to the left hip. This included a golden breast star with a diameter of 91 mm, made up of eight rays of equal length, which was decorated with the medal insignia measuring 47 mm. The breast star was worn on the left side of the chest.
  • Grand Cross of the German Eagle Order (with and without swords)
    • The Grand Cross has a diameter of 60 mm and is an eight-pointed, white-enameled, gold-framed cross, in each corner of which there is a golden sovereign eagle with lowered wings on an oak leaf wreath surrounding the swastika. Any additional swords awarded are crossed in the middle of the cross. The Grand Cross was worn on a 100 mm wide band that ran from the right shoulder to the left hip. This included a silver breast star with a diameter of 80 mm, made up of eight rays of equal length, which was covered with medals with a diameter of 45 mm. The breast star was worn on the left side of the chest.
  • German Eagle Order 1st Class (with and without swords)
    • The German Eagle Order of the 1st Class has a diameter of 50 mm and is an eight-pointed, white-enameled, gold-framed cross, in each corner of which there is a gold sovereign eagle with lowered wings on an oak leaf wreath surrounding the swastika. Any additional swords awarded are crossed in the middle of the cross. The 1st class was worn on a 90 mm wide band running from the right shoulder to the left hip with white stripes in the middle. This included a silver breast star similar to that of the Grand Cross. However, the national eagles in this medal are made of silver with a gold border. The breast star was not worn on the left side, but on the right side of the breast.
  • German Eagle Order 2nd Class (with and without swords)
    • The German Eagle Order of the 2nd Class has a diameter of 50 mm and is an eight-pointed, white-enameled, gold-framed cross, in each corner of which there is a gold sovereign eagle with lowered wings on an oak leaf wreath surrounding the swastika. Any additional swords awarded are crossed in the middle of the cross. The 2nd class, like the 3rd class, was worn as a neck medal/order. This includes a silver breast star with a diameter of 75 mm, made up of six rays of equal length, which is covered with the medal insignia with a diameter of 45 mm and was worn on the left side. If the person to be honored had already been awarded the 3rd class, the star was to be awarded additionally to him.
  • German Eagle Order 3rd Class (with and without swords)
    • The German Eagle Order of the 3rd class has a diameter of 50 mm and is an eight-pointed, white-enameled, gold-framed cross, in each corner of which there is a gold sovereign eagle with lowered wings on an oak leaf wreath surrounding the swastika. Any additional swords awarded are crossed in the middle of the cross. The 3rd class, like the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, was worn as a neck medal/order.
  • German Eagle Order 4th Class (with and without swords)
    • The German Eagle Order of the 4th class has a diameter of 50 mm and is an eight-pointed, white-enameled, gold-framed cross, in each corner of which there is a gold sovereign eagle with lowered wings on an oak leaf wreath surrounding the swastika. Any additional swords awarded are crossed in the middle of the cross. The 4th class had a classic peg cross and was worn on the left breast pocket.
  • German Eagle Order 5th Class (with and without swords)
    • The German Eagle Order of the 5th class has a diameter of 45 mm and is an eight-pointed, white-enameled, gold-framed cross, in each corner of which there is a gold sovereign eagle with lowered wings on an oak leaf wreath surrounding the swastika. Any additional swords awarded are crossed in the middle of the cross. The 5th Class is a classic ribbon medal and was worn on the left side of the chest. The ribbon was based on the colors of the Reich, black, white and red, and is vertically red and lined with white and black.
  • Silver Medal of Merit (with and without swords)
    • The Silver Medal of Merit (with and without swords) is round and has a diameter of 38 mm. It shows the embossed image of the Order's Cross on it's front and the three-line inscription on it's back: German / Merit / Medal. It was worn on the same band (as the 5th class) on the left side of the chest.
  • Bronze Medal of Merit (with and without swords)
    • The Bronze Medal of Merit is as the Silver Medal. However, the ribbon of the Bronze Medal is crossed by a narrow white vertical stripe.

Military regulations

The High Command of the Wehrmacht (OKW) commented on this change in the statutes on 7 March 1944 in the following way (excerpt):

The rank or corresponding rank is decisive for the classification when the award is given. The following guidelines apply to the classes to be awarded:
  • a) Grand Cross: Generalfeldmarschall, Großadmiral, Generaloberst, Generaladmiral
  • b) 1st Class: Commanding General (Kommandierender General), Admiral
  • c) 2nd Classe: Lieutenant General, Vice Admiral, Major General, Rear Admiral
  • d) 3rd Class: Colonel, Captain at Sea, Lieutenant Colonel, Frigate Captain
  • e) 4th Class: Major, Lieutenant Commander/Corvette Captain
  • f) 5th Class: Captain, Rittmeister, Lieutenant Captain, 1st Lieutenant, 2nd Lieutenant
  • g) Silver Medal of Merit: NCOs
  • h) Bronze Medal of Merit: Soldiers

External

References

  1. ↑ AWM Collection Record: RELAWM30337A. Australian War Memorial (September 2008).
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