Rating Party Decorations

[JoeW]

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

Gregorio's comment is interesting, mentioning period publications as providing a list. But do these lists actually provide a grading of importance by the party or whomever made the list, or is it some other method of listing?

[der-hase-fee]

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.

I agree with James and Joe.

[kittykat]

Party decorations should include balloons, party poppers, banners, streamers and a party bag for the kids.

[Robert Jones]

It seems rather unfair to regard only NSDAP members holding the Coburg badge and/or Blood Order as the most devout and loyal of National Socialist adherents when the vast majority of the German nation had never even heard of Adolf Hitler and his NSDAP until after he was indicted for the failed 1923 coup d'état.

Certainly these badges proved an individual was present at these early pivotal moments in the history of the NS movement, yet I’m sure that numerous persons who engaged in these early activities came along for a spontaneous and momentary thrill and then simply dropped out over time. Of course those fortunate enough to have stumbled upon the movement during its gestation period and joined because they were true and ardent believers must and should be been regarded as a special and distinct class, but not all necessarily the truest of disciples. In fact several Coburg badge and Blood Order recipients would ultimately find themselves either incarcerated or executed for acts of treachery during Operation Hummingbird.

On the other hand I would imagine that after these events had transpired there were many intensely sincere and profoundly dedicated members who initially joined the party simply because they found themselves instinctively attracted to both the movement’s principles and purposes. Such people didn’t become members because they just happened to reside in the right place at the right time and to one degree or another sympathized with the party’s program. I’m convinced that many people who joined the NSDAP after the national media publicity generated by Hitler’s trial for sedition did so out of sincerest conviction and then continued to remain most loyal adherents until the end of the regime and even beyond.

I suppose such reasoning is why I tend to also regard the Ehrenwinkel der Alten Kämpfer, although not as generally esteemed or cherished, as a significant award implemented by Hitler and bestowed upon an individual in order to acknowledge and reward all of those who chose to join the NSDAP out of genuine conviction well before the paty‘s success was assured.
.

[JoeW]

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.

I think Hitler's actions spoke louder than his words. He BO infrequently (at special events) and the Coburg-when?

[ErichS]

I think Hitler's actions spoke louder than his words. He BO infrequently (at special events) and the Coburg-when?

Joe,

think he was referring to the Alte Kampfer of the movement when making that comment.

[der-hase-fee]

And here is Franz Xaver Schwarz's rating black on white: GPB, BO and then ....



Sorry, no CB or other.

[ErichS]

Interesting Andreas. It seems that there were many differences of opinion even within the party hierarchy. Not that it means much, but another source the SS DAL as of Jan 1942 lists the political awards as follows:

Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP
Coburger Ehrenzeichen 1922
Ehrenzeichen vom 9. November 1923

[TxGauleiter]

"The Party's insignia in gold ought to be superior to any distinction granted by the State. The Party distinctions cannot be awarded to a stranger. When I see a man wearing the Blutorden I know that here is somebody who has paid with his own person (wounds or years of imprisonment)."
-A Hitler


Hitler's Table Talk
2nd printing, 2000
page 120

[TxGauleiter]

"The Party's insignia in gold ought to be superior to any distinction granted by the State. The Party distinctions cannot be awarded to a stranger. When I see a man wearing the Blutorden I know that here is somebody who has paid with his own person (wounds or years of imprisonment)."
-A Hitler


Hitler's Table Talk
2nd printing, 2000
page 120

this is probably why FX Schwarz said the same about the GPB..
very interesting discussion...

[ErichS]

It almost seems that Hitler was referring to the 2nd pattern BO more than the 1st in his discussion.

[Br. James]

In the quote provided by TxGauleiter below, Hitler appears to be flatly stating that the numbered GPB -- "the Party's insignia in gold" -- was superior to any award made by the State. I don't have a copy of "Hitler's Table Talk" at hand in order to check the date of this quote, but it sounds to me like this statement was made either very early in the '30s, prior to the issuance of the first AH Honorary GPBs (his reference to a person "who has paid with his own person (wounds or years of imprisonment)" in support of his early membership in the NSDAP) seems intended to exclude those who received the Honorary GPB as leaders of science, industry, government or the military who, in many cases, did not even join the NSDAP until after January 30, 1933), or at worst, he had forgotten that such badges not only bear the insignia of his movement but also his personal initials! As Erich also notes, there is a hint of this informal identification of a 'second class status' within major NSDAP awards, particularly the GPB and the BO which both included people in the 2nd award list who definitely did not meet the strict qualifications of the 1st list -- here meaning holding an NSDAP Membership Number between 1 and 100,000 or having been present during the events of 8/9 November 1923.

Thanks too to Andreas for providing the opinion of Reichsleiter Schwarz on this subject; his take always carried great weight!

Br. James

[TxGauleiter]

In the quote provided by TxGauleiter below, Hitler appears to be flatly stating that the numbered GPB -- "the Party's insignia in gold" -- was superior to any award made by the State. I don't have a copy of "Hitler's Table Talk" at hand in order to check the date of this quote...

Br. James

I dont wish to take exception to Br James' speculation, I only wish to provide the correct timeframe. November 1941 is the date attributed in Table Talk.

[Br. James]

Thanks to TxGauleiter for the dating of the Hitler quote. It would seem that Hitler was already suffering from foggy memory, at least, by late in 1941!

Br. James