Collection of six original documents on four civilian, political and military awards and decorations of Nazi Germany: Verdienstorden vom Deutschen Adler: Verordnung und Satzung (The Order of the German Eagle: Regulations and Articles); Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter (The Cross of Honor of the German Mother); Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes (The German Red Cross Decoration); Erlaß über das Verwundetenabzeichens für Angehörige der Freiwilligen Krankenpflege, des Freiwilligen Automobilkorps und des Freiwilligen Motorbootkorps (Decree on the bestowing of the Wound Badge for members of the Volunteer Trained Nurse Association, the Volunteer Automobile Corps, and the Volunteer Motorboat Corps)
Berlin: NP, 1937-1938-1939. First edition. Paperback. Quarto. [30]pp. Modern folder containing six original documents pertaining to the creation and/or modifications, regulations and articles of the Verdienstorden vom Deutschen Adler (the Order of the German Eagle), the Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter (The Cross of Honor of the German Mother), the Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes (The German Red Cross Decoration), and the Verwundetenabzeichens (Wound Badge).
- I: Verdienstorden vom Deutschen Adler: Verordnung und Satzung. The Order of the German Eagle was instituted on 1 May 1937 by Adolf Hitler and was an award of the German Nazi regime, predominantly to foreign diplomats. It ceased to be awarded following the collapse of the Nazi Government at the end of World War II. From 1937 to 1943 the order was presented in six classes:
- 1) Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle with star (Grosskreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens)
- 2) Order of the German Eagle with Star (Deutscher Adlerorden mit Stern)
- 3) Order of the German Eagle 1st Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Erste Stufe)
- 4) Order of the German Eagle 2nd Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Zweite Stufe)
- 5) Order of the German Eagle 3rd Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Dritte Stufe)
- 6) German Medal of Merit (Deutsche Verdienstmedaille)
A unique Grand Cross of the Order 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.
On 27 December 1943 the Order was reorganized into nine classes:
- 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 Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Erste Stufe)
- 4) Order of the German Eagle 2nd Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Zweite Stufe)
- 5) Order of the German Eagle 3rd Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Dritte Stufe)
- 6) Order of the German Eagle 4th Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Vierte Stufe)
- 7) Order of the German Eagle 5th Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Fünfte Stufe)
- 8) Silver Medal of Merit (Silberne Verdienstmedaille)
- 9) Bronze Medal of Merit (Bronzene Verdienstmedaille)
- II: Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter: The Cross of Honour of the German Mother (German: Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter), referred to colloquially as the Mutterehrenkreuz (Mother’s Cross of Honour) or simply Mutterkreuz (Mother’s Cross), was a state decoration and civil order of merit conferred by the government of the German Reich to honor a Reichsdeutsche German mother for exceptional merit to the German nation. Eligibility later extended to include Volksdeutsche (ethnic German) mothers from, for example, Austria and Sudetenland, that had earlier been incorporated into the German Reich. The decoration was conferred from 1939 until 1945 in three classes of order, bronze, silver, and gold, to Reichsdeutsche mothers who exhibited probity, exemplary motherhood, and who conceived and raised at least four or more children in the role of a parent. A similar practice, that continues to this present day, was already established in France since 1920, by conferring the Médaille de la Famille française (Medal of the French Family), a tribute to the French mother who raised several children in an appropriate way.In recognition of the substantial importance a woman’s role and motherhood was in support of a strong German Reich nation, the Cross of Honor of the German Mother was introduced by decree in Berlin on 16 December 1938 by Führer und Reichskanzler Adolf Hitler. The preamble of the statutory decree declared: ”Als sichtbares Zeichen des Dankes des Deutschen Volkes an kinderreiche Mütter stifte ich das Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter” (As a visible sign of gratitude of the German nation to children-rich mothers I establish this Cross of Honor of the German Mother). The Mother’s Cross was composed of three classes of order:
1st Class Order, Gold Cross: eligible mothers with eight or more children.
2nd Class Order, Silver Cross: eligible mothers with six to seven children.
3rd Class Order, Bronze Cross: eligible mothers with four to five children.
The crosses were awarded annually on the second Sunday in May (Mother's Day), but also extended to include other national annual occasions of celebration. So despite its institution in 1938, the first awards were rendered in May 1939.
- III: Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes (The German Red Cross Decoration). The German Red Cross Decoration is a decoration founded in 1922, first awarded in 1934 and re-founded in its present form on 8 May 1953. It is awarded by the German Red Cross. During the National Socialist period, the decoration was adjusted three times (1933-1939). The original design from 1922 was used until 1934. Between 1934 and 1937 new classes were added. From 1937 the German Swastika was added to the design and the classes were reorganized again. The Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes German Red Cross Decoration) had two classes between 1922 and 1934:
1- Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes Erste Klasse (First Class)
2- Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes Zweite Klasse (Second Class)
After reorganizing the Order in 1934 the classes became:
1- Stern des Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes (Star)
2- Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes Erste Klasse (First Class)
3- Verdienstkreuz des Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes (Cross of Merit)
4- Ehrenzeichen des Roten Kreuzes (Decoration of the Red Cross)
5- Damenkreuz des Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes (Ladies Cross)
In 1937 the design was changed and the classes reorganized:
1- Grosskreuz des Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes (Grand Cross)
2- Stern des Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes (Star)
3- Erste Klasse des Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes (First Class)Could be awarded with diamonds
4- Verdienstkreuz des Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes (Merit Cross)
5- Zweite Klasse des Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes (Second Class)
6- Medaille des Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes (Medal)
In 1939 the decoration was replaced with the Ehrenzeichen für Deutsche Volkspflege (German Social Welfare Decoration).
- IV: Erlaß über das Verwundetenabzeichens für Angehörige der Freiwilligen Krankenpflege, des Freiwilligen Automobilkorps und des Freiwilligen Motorbootkorps: Emperor Wilhelm II instituted the first wound badge on 3.3.1918 to recognize the wounded and the sacrifices they made in WWI. The original design featured an M16 style helmet superimposed over crossed swords inside a laurel leaf wreath. It was bestowed upon the recipients in 3 grades, each reflecting the number or severity of wounds received: black for 1-2 wounds, silver for 3-4 wounds, and gold for 5 or more wounds, the loss of a limb, permanent disability, or blindness. Many of the soldiers who were wounded in WWI never received their award because it wasn't instituted until the war was nearly over. On January 30, 1936 the Ministry of Interior remedied the situation by issuing a declaration that allowed for the bestowal of the award and proper documentation until late 1941.
The six documents are the following:
- Original cream cardboard folder, with embossed Nazi eagle on front cover. Folder containing the 4-leaf decree and articles instauring The Order of the German Eagle. Document dated May 1, 1937. Includes a loose printed leaf presenting the six different classes of the Order. Text in German, gothic script.
- The first part (Teil I) of issue No. 224 of the "Reichsgesetzblatt" (the official Gazette of the German Empire), dated December 24, 1938, and containing the statutory decree instauring the Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter (pp. 1923 to 1926). Text in German, gothic script.
- The 6-page Supplement (Sonderabdruck Nr. 8) of the "Ministerialblatt des Reichs- und Preußischen Ministerium des Innern" (Issue Nr. 5 of 1939) containing the regulations of The Cross of Honor of the German Mother. Text in German, gothic script.
- A 4-page typed and handsigned document from the "Generalreferent fur das Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes," dated Berlin, September 1934 documenting the changes in appearance to the German Red Cross decoration. The new revised Cross is depicted on top of the first page. Closed tear and moderate creasing at upper right corner.
- A 4-page typed letter from Carl Eduard, Herzog von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha, President of the German Red Cross, to Konstantin von Neurath, Foreign Minister of Germany. Letter dated March 10, 1934, and informing the Foreign Minister about the changes in appearance of the German Red Cross decoration.
- A 2-page printed decree dated June 30, 1936 allowing the bestowing of the Wound Badge to Germans serving in the Volunteer Trained Nurse Association, the Volunteer Automobile Corps, and the Volunteer Motorboat Corps. Text in German, gothic script.
Two punch holes along spine of documents (not affecting text). Moderate and sporadic foxing and age-toning throughout. Documents in overall good+ condition. g+. Item #37749
Price: $450.00