Rating Party Decorations

[ErichS]

According to Robin Lumsden in his well done book, "Medals and Decorations of Hitler's Germany," he lists in order the political awards due to their importance. Thought I would start a discussion to see if members agree or disagree?

1. German Order
2. AH GPB
3. Coburg Badge
4. Blood Order
5. Golden HJ Badge with Oakleaves
6. GPB
7. 29 RPT Badge
8. Brunswick Rally Badge
9. Gau Decorations
10. NSDAP Long Service Awards
11. Gold HJ Badge

Any thoughts?

[Military]

How about the 1933 Reichparteitag badge and the Frontbann badge?

Mil

[Military]

And if we're considering the HJ badges, then maybe the 1932 HJ Honour badge should be included?

Mil

[peterm]

And if we're considering the HJ badges, then maybe the 1932 HJ Honour badge should be included?

Mil

I think that should be the Nr. 11 on his list...

Kind regards, Peter

[Robert Jones]

Wouldn't decorations also include the Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kämpfer?

[Robert Jones]

How about the 1933 Reichparteitag badge and the Frontbann badge?

Mil

I believe the Frontbann badge was removed from the authorised awards list and unsanctioned for wear in late 1934.

[jabnus]

Good idea Erich,

But what factors do we have to keep in mind? Their importance in history? Or their collectors importance (and rarity)?

I'd take a (cased) golden NSDAP cross any day above a GPB, 1929 RPT and several of the Gau awards.

My personal favorite is the German National Prize for Arts and Sciences. Wouldn't that fit right in this top 10?

Best regards,
Gaston

1. German Order
2. AH GPB
3. Coburg Badge
4. Blood Order
5. Golden HJ Badge with Oakleaves
6. GPB
7. 29 RPT Badge
8. Brunswick Rally Badge
9. Gau Decorations
10. NSDAP Long Service Awards
11. Gold HJ Badge

[Br. James]

This is a challenge, Erich! And I agree with Gaston that, in terms of its political rarity, the German National Prize for Arts and Sciences (awarded only nine times) is indeed a most rare decoration and in the category of rarity, it even tops the German Order (awarded only eleven times). But "importance" and "rarity" are not the same thing, are they? As I think about "importance" in the political context, I think what makes a badge, award or decoration "important" has to do with how it is understood when seen by the general public. Does such an award imply high status and a great degree of honor worthily placed upon the wearer, regardless of what social titles he/she may have? In my mind I see Hitler wearing his Traditions Brown Shirt in the later years and in his uniform jacket, and both tell us what awards he most valued in his lifetime -- and being both Head of State and Party Leader he could have created or worn as many high-profile decorations as he wanted (and as Göring did wear!) -- but he saw these three as reflective of his whole adult life: the numbered GPB, the EKI of 1914 and the Black Wound Badge of 1914. Taken together, these three awards established the value Hitler placed upon his leadership of the NSDAP, his gallantry and service to a grateful Germany during WWI, and his willingness to shed his blood and to put his life and health in danger toward carrying out his given military mission. And except for a few events at which he would wear the badge of that particular occasion -- and here I am thinking of the Blood Order which he proudly wore at the annual Putsch commemorations -- it was the three mainstay awards that he wore regularly that got the people's attention.

The numbered GPB was awarded to 22,000+ people and I believe it became well-known throughout society in Germany and the Third Reich. The AH GPB was a shadow of that awarded number, and I'm sure most people who saw it worn assumed that the wearer was a true Altekämpfer, not a political late-comer who was accorded recognition in society for some subjective good work or position they held.

The NSDAP itself regarded the Coburg Badge and the Blood Order as indicative of high respect and honor due to a person who had been a Party Member from earliest times and had put his/her life on the line in support of the Führer during two greatly significant instances: the Battle of Coburg and the Beer Hall Putsch. There were fewer than 1,000 Coburg Badges awarded, and only 1,500 Blood Orders presented to those who could prove that they were actually present at the events of 8/9 November 1923. Another 1,500 BOs -- at least some of which were 'honorary' just as the AH GPB was honorary -- were awarded, making these awards connected with danger and the shedding of blood preeminent in the eyes of the Party leadership...and probably rightly so. The numbered GPB also assumed the danger inherent with the early support of this revolutionary political Party and its several uniformed organizations, though it did not focus on any particular event in the Party's history; instead it reflected long and loyal service by those who valued their memberships so strongly that they maintained them through the dark post-1924 years of rebuilding the fractured NSDAP and carrying it to eventual victory.

So, for me, a "list in order of the political awards due to their importance" must begin:

1. GPB -- both numbered and 'AH'
2. Blood Order
3. Coburg Badge
4. 29 RPT Badge
5. Brunswick Rally Badge
6. Gau Decorations
7. NSDAP Long Service Awards

Sorry but that's as far as I can think at this moment! Many thanks for providing this exercise for us...and I'm sure each of our colleagues will have his/her own list of the importance of these political awards.

Br. James

[Wim Vangossum]

Hitler claimed in his table talks that he only gave true value to the mother cross and the long service awards. Because they proofed without any doubts someone's achievements (however the same could be said from the Coburg Badge, I guess).

I think he meant that other awards sometimes were given by favouritisme.


Regards, Wim


Freedom is not for Free

[ErichS]

Great opinions all.

For me the 1st pattern BO and the Coburg Badge share equal status followed by the GPBs and the 29 RPT Badge.

Think I read somewhere that Hitler said that party members who wore the BO and CB on their brown shirts were true National Socialists.

[Thorsten B.]

Hitler claimed in his table talks that he only gave true value to the mother cross...

That´s right.

[Thorsten B.]

...My personal favorite is the German National Prize for Arts and Sciences. Wouldn't that fit right in this top 10?

That is not a Party decoration.

[JoeW]

A very subjective opinion poll Erich, but one that always gets a rise from collectors. I certainly enjoyed reading Br. James' exposition on the subject. I agree. Hitler was the party. And what Hitler valued is obvious by what he wore all the time and what he only wore on occasion.

I like Br. James' list.

[Gregorio Torres]

Lumsdem´s list looks ok completly for me acording with the period publications that I´ve searched.

[Jon Fish]

For me this is really tough, depends if its about importance to collectors, to the party and Hitler or the current value base.
But having said that I would suggest

1. Blood Order 1st pattern
2. Coburg
3. GPB/ Blood Order 2nd pattern( sorry can't choose!)
4. GPB AH version

Then the rest.
I don't put the 1929 RPT badge up there as high as some others, agree its important though. but wouldnt put it ahead of say a gold NSDAP award or some of the Gau awards.
1st pattern blood order in terms of importance and being from such a watershed moment in history with everything going on at the time like the inflation, for me is top.
Coburg yes agreed was the pre cursor to 1923's events but it does not carry the same mark in history or as many ramifications as the 1923 putsch so for that reason I put the 1st pattern Blood Order on top.
you will note I have seperated 1st and 2nd pattern blood Orders. Agree 2nd pattern medal was very important in that it was awarded to a large bulk of Austrians who themselves made significant sacrifices that led to the award. But it was a different criteria and apparently 1st pattern holders were not very happy about the introduction of these new medals in later years to those not directly involved in the putsch.
The GPB to the average Joe there from the start who paid his dues every year to me is more important than the honour awards that could be given as favours/bribes/status/party sponsorship etc.

So, there we go, my opinion- no suprises for the number one