foreign decorations

[Canutt]

I'm interesting with foreign decoratios worn with german uniform.
I know:
the croatian order of the crown of king zvonimir
the italo-german canpaign medal
the romanian commemorative medal for the crusade against comunism
the finnish artic front cross
the turkish iron half moon

are there others decorations of this type?

Thank you
Mario

[Rick Research]

For ribboned ones, check out this website's ribbon bar article at

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/ribbons/index.htm

and go to the sections that most interest you: probably WW2 and exotica, closeups of the devices, and the photo galleries.

[Rick Research]

Here is just a sample: WW2 ribbon bar with awards from Japan, Rumania, and Finland:

[Angel Farré]

You also can find Spanish decorations won during the Spanish Civil War or in actions with the Spanish Blue Division or Blue Squadron, here find the Spanish War Cross.

Angel

[Daniel Krause]

If You like Croatians, here is a ribbon bar with the Iron Trifold and the Crown of Zwonimir:

Best regards

Daniel

[Dave Danner]

The following members of the Anti-Comintern Pact routinely gave awards to their German allies during World War Two:

Italy
Romania
Bulgaria
Croatia
Hungary
Slovakia
Finland
Spain

Romanian awards seem to be the most commonly seen. Romania was the largest Axis power in Europe after Germany and Italy, and Italian awards were banned after Italy's defection, so many disappeared from award groups. Croatia also pretty liberally awarded its decorations to German troops serving in occupation and antipartisan warfare in the former Yugoslavia.

Italy: Besides the Italian-German Campaign Medal in Africa, Germans also received the Cross for Merit in War and the Military Medal for Valor. There were also the Military Order of Savoy, the Order of the Crown of Italy and the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus.

Romania: For Romania, the "Crusade Against Communism" Medal was most common. It was a service medal, so many soldiers were eligible. Many German officers received the Order of the Crown or the Order of the Star, and NCOs often recieved the Loyal Service Cross, the Loyal Service Medal or the Medal for Steadfastness and Loyalty. The higher bravery awards, the Order of Michael the Brave and the Military Bravery Cross, were less common.

Bulgaria: Most commonly, Germans would receive the Order of Military Merit and the Military Order for Bravery. These orders both had lower grades awarded to NCOs and enlisted men. Quite a few Germans also received Bulgarian awards in World War One.

Croatia: The Order of the Crown of King Zvonimir and the associated Medal of the Crown of King Zvonimir seem the most commonly encountered among Germans. A higher order, the Order of the Iron Trefoil, is also sometimes seen.

Hungary: The Order of the Holy Crown of Hungary was specifically designed for award to non-Hungarians, but wasn't typically awarded to combat soldiers. I have no idea which of Hungary's other decorations, including the Order of Merit, the Vitez Order, the Signum Laudis Medals, the Bravery Medals, or the Fire Crosses, might have been given to Germans.

Slovakia: Like Croatia a nominally independent puppet state, Slovakia had several awards. I don't know which ones Germans might get, other than the Order of the War Victory Cross, of which according to the Third Reich Factbook there were 437 German recipients. Germans also received the Badge of Honor for Service in the Eastern Front.

Finland: The most commonly seen would be the Order of the Cross of Liberty and the associated Medals of Liberty. Occasionally you see Germans with the Order of the Lion or the Order of the White Rose. World War One groups are sometimes seen with the Liberation War Commemorative Medal. Other than the pinback Commemorative Northern Cross, I have never seen Germans wearing Finnish campaign and unit crosses.

Spain: Although some Germans serving alongside the Spanish "Blue Division" on the Russian Front may have received awards, the majority of German recipients of Spanish awards got them for the Spanish Civil War.

Japan: Japanese orders are sometimes seen, but usually only to diplomats and high-ranking officers, since Japanese and German troops did not fight side by side.

The above discussion only highlights combat awards or the like. Higher level Nazi party types, diplomats and senior generals received many orders from various countries as well.

Also, like the Ottoman Empire's War Medal (the so-called "Iron Crescent" or "Eiserne Halbmond"), many World War One orders and medals show up on senior officers and NCOs and retreads from the Great War. Besides the aforementioned Bulgarian awards, Austrian and Ottoman Turkish are the most likely. Germans also received medals from Finland in its Liberation War and from the White side in the Russian Civil War.

Occasionally, the awards of a neutral state like Sweden or Portugal may be seen, but these would be more likely for a diplomat or a Red Cross worker.

I hope this has been helpful.

Dave

[Canutt]

thanks

Yes, this is just what I was searching.

Thank you very much

Canutt