How many different typs, of medals, were in the 3 reich ??
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many
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Way too many I would guess
Depends on how you define a medal.
The actually had very few medals compared to the Commonwealth, US & USSR if you define a medal as an award for just showing up.
They did have more decorations than the Commonwealth but fewer orders.
They did have a very large number of qualification badges which in the way they were sometimes awarded could be considered a decoration.
It is hard to compare one system of orders and decorations with another as it is based on national tradition etc.
For example many (not me) consider the Knights Cross (RK) equivalent to the CW DSO (Distinguished Service Order) however a RK could be won by any any German Serving regardless of rank (as long as the had the Iron cross 2nd and 1st class) and was awarded for repeated acts of bravery/leadership, or a single act of bravery/leadership.
While the DSO was for senior officers lt Col and above for leadership but very rarely it was given to a Major for acts of bravery or leadership.
just my 2cComment
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If medals equal bravery, not so many. The iron crosses (and German cross, of course) were about it.
There were also "participation" kind of awards, like Infantry assault badges, minesweepers, etc.
There were also qualification, such as Pilot or observer.
Time based awards, 4, 8, 12 years in the Army or SS, for instance.
Also, duty, such as Westwall.
best
HankUnless it was nighttime, or the weather was bad, and you were running out of gas - then it was a sweaty nightmare, like a monkey f*ing a skunk.
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