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Lifetime Member
W. C. Stump is offline
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Loyall, Ky. U.S.A. Life Member # 006
Posts: 2,706
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FROM THE ARCHIVES OF THE FORUM
Below is an article I wrote for his forum last year. I can supply all the photo's of all variations again now taht we can post scans direct if requested.
ORDER OF THE GERMAN EAGLE
With the signing of the Armistice in 1918, German did not have a national decoration with which to bestow upon a foreign dignitary. Every creditable nation had such an award and for European nations, it was almost a mandatory necessity, especially around the diplomatic circles. When Hitler came to power he personally refused to accept any award or decoration from a foreign government. Not to appear insulting to the many great nations which did present heads of states the highest decoration allowed to be bestowed to a foreigner, Hitler allowed his Foreign Minister to accept these on behalf of Germany. It turned out that Hitler’s decision benefited one young schoolteacher in Kentucky in 1969 when yours truly acquired all the Foreign Minister of Germany’s decorations and that being those bestowed to Joachim von Ribbentrop. That is another story in itself. Therefore, the problem was corrected in May of 1937 when Hitler personally instituted the MERITORIOUS ORDER OF THE GERMAN EAGLE. With this award, he had an award that he could use to give him the tool to court the many diplomatic personalities, other foreign personages who came to Germany. In the beginning, this order was to be bestowed ONLY to foreign statesmen and dignitaries. As is well known, one of the first such personalities was the American Charles Lindbergh who was bestowed the neck order and star on October 19, 1938. Another was noted American Industrialist Henry Ford. This in mind we will take a look at the 1937 series of this order.
Before I continue with the 1937 issue of the Order of the German eagle, Kevin has posted what THE DRITTE REICH published in 1937 when the order was established showing the various classes. Therefore, I will pick up with the next class of the 1937 Order of the German eagle, the Grand Cross (Grosskreuz des Ordens vom Deutschenadler”.) This was an eight-pointed Silver Star that measured 80 mm and was worn on the left breast. It also came with a 60 mm cross-suspended by a ring from a 100-mm shoulder sash that was solid red. Both the suspension ring and the breast star was marked “900” for silver content. The “900” marking was stamped on the pin of the badge.
The next class in the 1937 variation was the Order of the German Eagle with Star (“Verdienstkreutz mit Stern des Ordens vom Deutschen Adler”.) This class came with a Six-pointed Silver Star that measured 75-mm and was worn on the left breast. A neck cross accompanied the star ad was 50-mm and suspended from a 45-mm neck ribbon. Again, the breast star was marked “900”. One need to make note that at this time the case or this variation had the title of “Verdienstkreutz mit Stern des Ordens vom Deutschen Adler” stamped in gold on the inside top of the presentation case. I mention this because after the 1939 and 1943 variations come on the scene, and when the war ended and thousands of returning GI’s brought these lovely decorations back as souvenir’s, many were mixed up and cases thrown away. This tended to confuse everyone when trying to collect in order all these great looking decorations.
The next 1937 variation was the 1st Class of the Order of the German eagle. (Verdienstkreuz des Ordens vom Deutschen Adler Erster Stufe”) This was a 50-mm cross suspended from a 45-mm ribbon worn around the neck. The cross loop is marked “900” and the designation as marked in the inside of the case is “Verdienstkreuz 1. Stufe des Ordens vom Deutschen Adler.”
The next to be listed is the 2nd Class (Verdienstkreuz des Ordens vom Deutschen Adler Zweiter Stufe”) and it was a 50-mm breast badge worn on the left breast. The pin was marked “900”.
The 3rd Class (Verdienstkreuz des Ordens vom Deutschen Adler Dritter Stufe”.) This class consisted of a 45-mm cross suspended on a 40-mm ribbon. The upper arm of the cross does not have the “fan” design and hangs from a simple loop ring marked “900” and the ribbon was solid red. The inside of the case is marked “Verdienstkreuz des Ordens vom Deutschen Adler Dritter Stufe”.
We now come to the final order in the 1937 series, the Medal of Merit (Deutschen Verdienstmedaille). The lettering or title is in GOTHIC SCRIPT. The medal came without swords and the rim was stamped “835 PR. MÜNZE BERLIN”.
The 1939 change starts to make keeping track of this order somewhat complicated. However, I will try to point out the way to help make the study of this order a bit easier. Therefore, remember that only the 1937 and 1939 had the “900” silver content stamped on the items and NO manufacture’s code. The 1937, 1939 2nd Class and 1943 4th Class had the same identical designs. The 1939 and 1943 came with and without swords. ONLY the 1943 4th class, which is identical to the 1937 and 1939 2nd Class, is marked “900” “21”. As stated by Bob Hritz in his post, the prestigious jewelry firm of Godet, Berlin, manufactured all these great orders and as far as all the information at my disposal, they were the only firm to produce the Orders of the German Eagle.
ORDER OF THE GERMAN EAGLE – 1939 REVISION
When Germany re-interred the world of International Diplomacy, the standard international ranking system was in effect regarding the bestowal of orders, medals and decorations to foreign personalities. The low-ranking recipients not of a junior grade received the Knights or Ritter medals. An officer would receive the breast star, a Commander would receive the neck order, and the Grand Commander would receive the neck order and the breast star. However, when it came to a head of state, field marshals and other ranking dignitaries, the Grand Gross (Grosskreuze) was bestowed. In short, the 1937 decree established five Orders and one Medal of Merit as described above.
As in many cases, the original plans for establishing an order was modified as time and necessity came about. This is true with the Meritorious Order of the German Eagle. As originally established, NO award was to be made to German nationals. However, limited exceptions were made. The first German to receive the Order of the German Eagle was to former Foreign Minister, Constantin von Neurath. He was bestowed a “Special Degree” (Sonder-Stufe) and it was suppose to be the highest level among the recognized Orders as of that date being April 20, 1939. However, Hitler had already awarded what was suppose to be the very highest grade when around 18 months earlier, on September 25th, 1937, he had presented his friend Benito Mussolini the one of a kind diamond grade special award. The Grand Cross in Gold established in 1939 was used thereafter and through the 1943 revision as the number one highest class of this order.
The major differences seen in the 1939 revisions were the introduction of swords for the various awards. At this time, the Grand Cross in Gold could be awarded with and without swords. The 1939 revision also changed the size of the star from 80-mm to 91-mm, was gilded silver rather than silver, and the sash cross was increased from 60-mm to 66-mm. The size of the sash remained 100-mm. The markings were the same, marked “900”. All other grades except the Medal of Merit remained the same except swords were authorized and on the 3rd Class the design was altered to accommodate a “fan” on the upper arm of the cross. In the case of the Metal of Merit with swords, the swords were mounted on the metal loop and not mounted on the face of the medal. The swords were finished on both obverse and reverse. Also another firm was authorized to manufacture the Medals of Merit other than MÜNZE, BERLIN. The firm of MÜNZAMT, WIEN, “835” was added to the rim of the medal. There was no ring marking.
At this point, I will take a break and prepare for Kevin to add some color scans of some of these great orders.
ORDER OF THE GERMAN EAGLE – 1943 REVISION
As the war brought changes to Germany and the world, so did it bring changes to the production of the Orders of the German Eagle. For four years the design and award statues for the Order remained as adopted in 1939. However, with the war now turning against Germany, the national order for foreigners need another revision to accommodate the combat recipients. The types of materials used in the production were changed as did the way the Orders were marked by the manufacture, Godet, Berlin.
Starting in 1943, the revision of the Order of the German eagle was adopted. The style of the Golden Grand Cross did not change. However, the Grand Cross was changed to have an eight-pointed star produced the same as the 1939 variation, but adding the manufacturer’s number “21” after the “900” silver mark. Therefore, if one encounters a star marked only “900” they can be assured that it is a 1937/39 issue and if it has the “900” “21” markings it is definitely a 1943 issue.
The 1943 2nd Class Order, with or without swords, is a bit tricky. A recipient could be bestowed the Neck Order, Star and Neck Order or if just the neck order, he could be given the Star as a higher award. In short, if he had been bestowed just the 2nd Class Neck Order, he could then be in line to receive the 2nd Class six-pointed silver Star measuring 75-mm. The 1943 Star is exactly like the designated “Star of the German Eagle Order that came in a red leather case with that designation in the inside top of the case. ONLY the designation “900” “21” distinguishes the difference from the 1939 Star. The Neck Order is also marked “900” “21” and “2” on the fan pattern.
Now we have the 1943 3rd Class award, a 45-mm breast cross. It came with and without swords and hung from a ribbon. The loop was marked “900” “21” and the fan was marked “3”.
The 4th Class award was a 45-mm pin cross, came with and without swords and was marked “900” “21” and base pin is stamped with a “4”.
The 5th Class award was a 45-mm cross that hung from a ribbon with a red field. It came with and without swords and was marked with a “5” on the fan to designate the class.
The final 1943 variation was the Medal of Merit. The style of the lettering changed from Gothic to Latin scrip and a new bronze version with and without swords was introduced. The ribbon for the bronze medals had a white stripe down the center. The silver medals always came in a nice presentation case while the bronze medals came in a paper envelope with the title of the award printed on the outer package. I never knew what the status was for the Bronze medals, but hopefully someone will bring this to light before the thread is ended.
ORDER OF THE GERMAN EAGLE – 1943 REVISION
As the war brought changes to Germany and the world, so did it bring changes to the production of the Orders of the German Eagle. For four years the design and award statues for the Order remained as adopted in 1939. However, with the war now turning against Germany, the national order for foreigners need another revision to accommodate the combat recipients. The types of materials used in the production were changed as did the way the Orders were marked by the manufacture, Godet, Berlin.
Starting in 1943, the revision of the Order of the German eagle was adopted. The style of the Golden Grand Cross did not change. However, the Grand Cross was changed to have an eight-pointed star produced the same as the 1939 variation, but adding the manufacturer’s number “21” after the “900” silver mark. Therefore, if one encounters a star marked only “900” they can be assured that it is a 1937/39 issue and if it has the “900” “21” markings it is definitely a 1943 issue.
The 1943 2nd Class Order, with or without swords, is a bit tricky. A recipient could be bestowed the Neck Order, Star and Neck Order or if just the neck order, he could be given the Star as a higher award. In short, if he had been bestowed just the 2nd Class Neck Order, he could then be in line to receive the 2nd Class six-pointed silver Star measuring 75-mm. The 1943 Star is exactly like the designated “Star of the German Eagle Order” that came in a red leather case with that designation in the inside top of the case. ONLY the designation “900” “21” distinguishes the difference from the 1939 Star. The Neck Order is also marked “900” “21” and “2” on the fan pattern.
Now we have the 1943 3rd Class award, a 45-mm breast cross. It came with and without swords and hung from a ribbon. The loop was marked “900” “21” and the fan was marked “3”.
The 4th Class award was a 45-mm pin cross, came with and without swords and was marked “900” “21” and base pin is stamped with a “4”.
The 5th Class award was a 45-mm cross that hung from a ribbon with a red field. It came with and without swords and was marked with a “5” on the fan to designate the class.
The final 1943 variation was the Medal of Merit. The style of the lettering changed from Gothic to Latin scrip and a new bronze version with and without swords was introduced. The ribbon for the bronze medals had a white stripe down the center. The silver medals always came in a nice presentation case while the bronze medals came in a paper envelope with the title of the award printed on the outer package.
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Order of the German Eagle
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