Foreign awards to German soldiers

[Schurgers]

Does an overview exist of all foreign awards, allowed to be, given to German soldiers? If not, would it be a good idea to sum them up and maybe show examples it this tread?

Willem

So far we have:

Bulgaria

Pilot badge
Observer badge
Pilot qualification wing
Bravery order
Order for Military Merit
Medal for participation in the WW1
Infantry badge in bronze
Infantry badge in bronze w/ enamel
Infantry badge in silver w/ enamel
Infantry badge in gold w/enamel<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->


Croatia

Wound medal
Iron Trefoil
Bravery medal of Poglavnik
Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir 1st class
Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir 2nd class

Finland

The Order of he Cross of Liberty

Military Division

Medal of Liberty 2nd class
Medal of Liberty 1st class
*Cross of Liberty 4th class w/swords
*Cross of Liberty 3rd class w/swords
*Cross of Liberty 2nd class w/swords
*Cross of Liberty 1st class w/swords (neck order)
Cross of Liberty 1st class w/swords & breast star
*Also awarded with oak leaves

Civilian Division:

Cross of Liberty 4th class w/o swords
Cross of Liberty 3rd class w/o swords
Cross of Liberty 2nd class w/o swords
The Order of the Lion of Finland:

Civil Division:
Knights Cross
Knights Cross 1st class

Military Division:

Commander w/ swords
Commander 1st class w/ breast star w/swords

(Other classes could have been awarded but altogether very few)

The Order of the White Rose of Finland:

Civil Division:

Knights Cross
Knight Cross 1st class
Commanders Cross
Commanders Cross 1st class & breast star
Grand Cross
Grand Cross collar chain

Military Division:

Commanders Cross
Commanders Cross 1st class w/ swords

Other official awards:

Pilots badge (HC)
Pilots badge w/ brilliants (to Göring)

Commercial badges:

'41 - '42, 41' - 43', 41' - 44' german - Finnish north front badge, Lapplandsfront badge and Eismeerfront badge<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

Hungary

Hungarian Service order with Swords
Fire cross
Order of the Hungarian holy crown with swords

Italy

Military bravery medal
Colonial order of the Italian star
Military order of Savoy
War service cross
Rome eagle order with swords

Japan

Order of the rising sun 3th class

Romania

Michael's order for bravery
Bravery order of Fliers
Order of the star of Romania with Swords
Order of the crown of Romania with Swords
Military bravery medal
Loyal service Cross with swords
Crusade against Communism medal

Slovakia

Slovakian war victory cross
Slovakian bravery medal

Spain

Knights cross Spanische Ritterkreuz "Isabella d. Katholische"
Spanische orden imperial del yugo y las flechas
Military medal
War cross
Red military service cross
Campaign medal

Turkey

Iron half moon (WW I)


Who can provide us with some pictures?

[Ludwig]

-

Yes, I think that would be a very good idea!
Go ahead!

[John T]

The German's received Croatian Awards. There are pictures that exist of Prinz Eugen members wearing Zvonimir Orders as well as other decorations, and I have had Croatian award documents named to Germans.

John

[Schurgers]

Hi John, can you please post some pictures

Willem

[rexmundi]

Korvettenkapitan Walter Herm received the following;

Spanische Ritterkreuz "Isabella d. Katholische"
Spanische orden imperial del yugo y las flechas
EkI und II 1914
Frontkampferkreuz
Spange zum EKII 1939
KVK with swords I en II class
Ostmedal
Finnische Freiheitskreuz

[John T]

HI Willem:

I will post some pix when I dig them out of my archives, John

[Theodor]

Kingdom Bulgaria:

Pilot badge
Observer badge
Pilot qualification wing

Bravery order - starting from the lowest grade for the low ranks, going through the higher grades /like the IV Class, 1st grade/ for the higher ranks and probably reaching the highest grades for the highest ranks.

Also I have seen Bulgarian Military Merit orders among the ordrs of German officers, but not sure if awarded during the war or prewar.

Also, some WW1 participants, still on service during the WW2, had the Bulgarian medal for participation in the WW1.

[jani_tiainen]

Nice idea! Here are some corrections regarding Finland.

Lets call the "Freedomcross" as The Cross of Liberty. The Order of the cross of Liberty is the official english translation.

Finland:

The following awards were given to germans:

The Order of he Cross of Liberty

Military Division

Medal of Liberty 2nd class
Medal of Liberty 1st class
*Cross of Liberty 4th class w/swords
*Cross of Liberty 3rd class w/swords
*Cross of Liberty 2nd class w/swords
*Cross of Liberty 1st class w/swords (neck order)
Cross of Liberty 1st class w/swords & breast star

*Also awarded with oak leaves

Civilian Division:

Cross of Liberty 4th class w/o swords
Cross of Liberty 3rd class w/o swords
Cross of Liberty 2nd class w/o swords

The Order of the Lion of Finland:

Civil Division:
Knights Cross
Knights Cross 1st class

Military Division:

Commander w/ swords
Commander 1st class w/ breast star w/swords

(Other classes could have been awarded but altogether very few)

The Order of the White Rose of Finland:

Civil Division:

Knights Cross
Knight Cross 1st class
Commanders Cross
Commanders Cross 1st class & breast star
Grand Cross
Grand Cross collar chain

Military Division:

Commanders Cross
Commanders Cross 1st class w/ swords

Other official awards:

Pilots badge (HC)
Pilots badge w/ brilliants (to Göring)

Commercial badges:

'41 - '42, 41' - 43', 41' - 44' german - Finnish north front badge, Lapplandsfront badge and Eismeerfront badge

[Howard Kelley]

Finnish Awards

Here's a Finnish medal bar. Most of these awards were also issued to German troops. First medal is Medal of Liberty 1st class, second medal is the 2nd class Medal of Liberty, third medal, Winter war medal and last of all is the Medal of the White Rose in Silver. To my knowledge all but the Winter War medal could be awarded to German troops.

If anyone has more information, please share.

Cheers,
Howard

[Howard Kelley]

Finnish Cross

Here's a photo of the Commander's grade, Order of the White Rose.

Cheers,
Howard

[Howard Kelley]

Bulgarian Infanty Badge

Photo of a Bulgarian Badge awarded to German soldiers. I know this badge has two versions, one in Silver as in photo, and another that is bronze. I have been told different reasons for the two badges. One source mentioned that the silver badge was awarded to Officer's and the bronze to Enlisted personal. If someone could supply the proper information, I would welcome the information.

Cheers,
Howard

[Howard Kelley]

Bulgarian Infantry Badge

Reverse photo

Photo of a Bulgarian Badge awarded to German soldiers. I know this badge has two versions, one in Silver as in photo, and another that is bronze. I have been told different reasons for the two badges. One source mentioned that the silver badge was awarded to Officer's and the bronze to Enlisted personal. If someone could supply the proper information, I would welcome the information.

Cheers,
Howard

[McCulloh]

Bulgarian merit medals were awarded during the war-mostly to admin. personnel as I have seen.

The most common foreign award was probably the Rumanian Crusade against Communism medal.

And of course there were also a number of Japanese awards.

There were also "Ostvolk" medals- and allegedly, the Azad Hind series from the INA.

[Theodor]

Sorry for hijacking the thread, but just a little offtopic for the Bulgarian badges: as far as I know, the grades are these: bronze - lowest ranks even soldiers. Bronze with enamel - NCO/sergeants staff. Silver plated with enamel - officers. Gold plated with enamel - generals.

[McCulloh]

Bulgarian goodies

The Bulgarian awards are fascinating and beautiful; I would love to be able to ruffle through their archives. King Boris was one of the few who stood up to Hitler-but was it a heart attck-or poison that killed him?

Below are some Geburgsjagers being awardrd the Bulgarian war cross for service in the Balkans.