Silesian Eagle
The Silesian Proficiency Badge (German: Schlesisches Bewährungsabzeichen), also popularly known as the Silesian Eagle (German: Schlesischer Adler) or Silesian Eagle Order (German: Schlesischer Adler-Orden), was a Freikorps award of the German Reich. It represents, in a stylistically modified form, the heraldic eagle of Silesia.
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Contents
History
In early February 1919, members of the Freikorps "Paulssen" approached Major Ernst Hesterberg, Chief of the General Staff of the VI Army Corps, requesting the establishment of a merit cross for their comrades fighting in Silesia. The reason for creating a regional decoration was that the Supreme Army Command (OHL) had not yet authorized the awarding of the Iron Cross First and Second Class. After consulting the only Silesian in the Breslau General Command, Captain Karl Friedrich Graf von Pückler, the regional design criteria were established.
Theodor von Gosen, a sculptor at the Breslau Academy of Art, produced three models, from which Major Hesterberg selected the later "Silesian Eagle." A musketeer from the General Command designed a commemorative certificate. Proceeds from the purchase of the certificate supported the "Reichswehr Donation for Prisoners of War" and the canteen funds of the corps' six divisions.
Original grades
The Silesian Eagle was officially instituted on 16 June 1919 by the General Command of the VI Army Corps: A badge of merit has been instituted for members of the border guard of the VI Army Corps who rushed to arms during the province's greatest time of need. This badge, as an outward symbol of honorable remembrance and patriotic spirit, may be worn by all those who, in the years 1918 and 1919, made themselves available as fighters to defend their homeland. The award was given in two grades (Stufen):
- II. Grade after three months of unblemished service in the same unit
- I. Grade after six months of unblemished service in the border guard for Silesia in the same unit.
The iron insignia depicts an upright, right-facing, blackened or browned eagle, its breast and wings adorned with a flat, gold-colored crescent moon containing a cross. In its talons, the eagle holds a ribbon inscribed "FOR SILESIA." The unofficial enameled version of the decoration dates from 1921.
The I. Grade was worn as a pin-on badge on the left breast below the Iron Cross 1st Class or the Wound Badge (1918), while the II. Grade was worn on a 24 mm wide, vertically striped yellow-white-yellow ribbon (the colors of Silesia) in the buttonhole or on the ribbon bar.
Recipients had to purchase the insignia themselves; the price of each grade was approximately 3.50 marks. The enameled version was more expensive.
In exceptional cases, the II. Grade could also be awarded to civilians who had distinguished themselves in the defense of Silesia.
It was originally planned to discontinue the awarding of the Silesian Merit Badge on 30 September 1919, following the dissolution of the VI Army Corps by the Treaty of Versailles of 28 June 1919. However, the newly established VI Army Corps Command in Breslau continued the awards. On 13 January 1920, Lieutenant General Friedrich von Friedeburg (1866–1933), Commanding General of the VI Army Corps, set 1 February 1920 as the final date for the awards.
Following Poland's defeat in the Upper Silesian plebiscite on 20 March 1921 and the establishment of the Upper Silesian Self-Defense Force in the spring of 1921, hostilities reignited with the outbreak of the Third Silesian Uprising on 3 May 1921. This created the need to reinstate the Silesian Merit Badge. The decisive factor for subsequent awards was no longer the length of service, but combat performance against the insurgents.
Oak Leaves
Since a number of members of the unit had already received the decoration, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Karl Hoefer, as commander of the Upper Silesian Self-Defense Force (SSOS), established the Oak Leaves to the Silesian Eagle on 1 July 1921, in agreement with Command Post VI in Oberglogau. Swords were also introduced that same year, so that at that time there were a total of two grades, each with four variations:
- II. Grade
- II. Grade with Oak Leaves
- II. Grade with Swords
- II. Grade with Oak Leaves and Swords
- I. Grade
- I. Grade with Oak Leaves
- I. Grade with Swords
- I. Grade with Oak Leaves and Swords
The decoration was also officially recognized on 16 May 1933 in the Police Clothing Regulations. It was only on 15 May 1934 that the Silesian Eagle, in its original form (without oak leaves and swords), was officially recognized as a state decoration of National Socialist Germany alongside the Baltic Cross (Baltenkreuz) by Section 5, Paragraph 1 b) of the Supplementary Law (RGBl. I, No. 52 of 16 May 1934, p. 379) to the Law on Titles, Orders & Decorations.
Between the implementing regulation of 14 November 1935 and the Anschluss of Austria, it was worn after the Cross of Honor of the World War and the Rescue Medal, but before the orders and decorations of former sovereigns. After that, the Silesian Eagle and the Carinthian Cross (Kärntner Kreuz) moved in front of the Rescue Medal and behind the war commemorative medals.
In the Federal Republic of Germany, the decoration may also be worn according to Section 6, Paragraph 1, No. 1 of the Law on Titles, Orders and Decorations of 26 July 1957 (BGBl. I, No. 37 of 5 August 1957, pp. 844–847).
See also
Further reading
In German
- Karl Hoefer: Oberschlesien in der Aufstandszeit 1918–1921, Berlin 1938 (Archive)
- Ewald Lex: Die Erstürmung des Annaberges am 21. Mai 1921, 1939 (Archive)
External links
- Schlesischer Adler / Silesian Eagles at Gentleman’s Military Interest Club (GMIC)
