Hermann Göring's NSDAP Decorations

[luftkrieg]

Gentlemen,

This may seem like a silly question, but can anyone confirm if Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring received the 3 x NSDAP Long Service Decorations?

I have seen no photographic evidence, either on medal bar or ribbon bar. Also, they never seem to make his vast list of awards, but surely he was eligible to receive them.

He was a member of the NSDAP from late 1922. He was stricken from the roles after the 1923 Putsch (stricken off in 1925 perhaps), and re-joined in 1927, so I am guessing he was entitled to all three grades.

Thanks for the help,

Pierce

[Br. James]

Hi Pierce,

Sorry that I can't help you with any info on Göring's NSDAP Long Service Decorations, though you do make an interesting observation!

At least one internet biography states that Göring joined the NSDAP 'two years prior to the Putsch,' which would make it 1921. And perhaps "stricken from the roles after the 1923 Putsch" is too harsh a judgement on him, given that the NSDAP ceased to exist with Hitler's post-Putsch arrest and subsequent national banning, so literally everyone was "stricken from the roles" at that time...including Hitler himself. Göring apparently returned to Germany as soon as his health permitted and his governmental banishment was lifted in 1927, and his receiving the new NSDAP Membership Number of 23 would seem to indicate that he had been in regular contact with Hitler and the newly-reorganized Party leadership throughout the period of 1923-27.

Best of luck in tracking down his Long Service Decorations records!

Br. James

[ErichS]

Hi Pierce,

Sorry that I can't help you with any info on Göring's NSDAP Long Service Decorations, though you do make an interesting observation!

At least one internet biography states that Göring joined the NSDAP 'two years prior to the Putsch,' which would make it 1921. And perhaps "stricken from the roles after the 1923 Putsch" is too harsh a judgement on him, given that the NSDAP ceased to exist with Hitler's post-Putsch arrest and subsequent national banning, so literally everyone was "stricken from the roles" at that time...including Hitler himself. Göring apparently returned to Germany as soon as his health permitted and his governmental banishment was lifted in 1927, and his receiving the new NSDAP Membership Number of 23 would seem to indicate that he had been in regular contact with Hitler and the newly-reorganized Party leadership throughout the period of 1923-27.


Best of luck in tracking down his Long Service Decorations records!

Br. James

Interesting that he was not at Coburg.

[luftkrieg]

Br. James- thank you for your comment. It will be difficult to find some sort of documentation but I guess I am trying to find the consensus among political type collectors here.

Personally, I believe he was entitled to them, and from reading about his love of acquiring medals, he would not have turned them down. I would just like to hear a few opinions on this from the gents here.

ErichS- Perhaps Göring joined the Party after 14 October 1922 and therefore did not qualify for the Coburg Badge? My records indicate that he joined sometime in October 1922...but do not have the exact date. I have not seen any photos of him wearing it, but I have seen him with the 1929 Nürnberg Party Badge.

Many thanks
Pierce

[ErichS]

Br. James- thank you for your comment. It will be difficult to find some sort of documentation but I guess I am trying to find the consensus among political type collectors here.

Personally, I believe he was entitled to them, and from reading about his love of acquiring medals, he would not have turned them down. I would just like to hear a few opinions on this from the gents here.

ErichS- Perhaps Göring joined the Party after 14 October 1922 and therefore did not qualify for the Coburg Badge? My records indicate that he joined sometime in October 1922...but do not have the exact date. I have not seen any photos of him wearing it, but I have seen him with the 1929 Nürnberg Party Badge.

Many thanks
Pierce

No, Goering didn't qualify for the CB. It doesn't seem he had much interest in political awards because other than the putsch anniversaries you very rarely see him in a photo wearing his BO. Now the wearing of military awards that was a different story!

[luftkrieg]

No, Goering didn't qualify for the CB. It doesn't seem he had much interest in political awards because other than the putsch anniversaries you very rarely see him in a photo wearing his BO. Now the wearing of military awards that was a different story!

Thanks Erich.

Regarding other political awards- I have seen these two badges on a few lists:

NSDAP Gau Thüringen Honorary Badge “Gau Silver Eagle"
NSDAP Gau Berlin Golden Honorary Badge

But tonight I also found reference to him receiving the Gau Essen Commemorative Badge in Gold (1935).
Would he have qualified for this?

Are there any other Gau/Political badges he would have received?

Thanks
Pierce

[ErichS]

Thanks Erich.

Regarding other political awards- I have seen these two badges on a few lists:

NSDAP Gau Thüringen Honorary Badge “Gau Silver Eagle"
NSDAP Gau Berlin Golden Honorary Badge

But tonight I also found reference to him receiving the Gau Essen Commemorative Badge in Gold (1935).
Would he have qualified for this?

Are there any other Gau/Political badges he would have received?

Thanks
Pierce

They most likely just honor awards given by the Gauleiters due to his position in the Reich.

[luftkrieg]

They most likely just honor awards given by the Gauleiters due to his position in the Reich.

That's what I was thinking also.

Thanks
Pierce

[Br. James]

I agree with Erich that Göring was courted by many in the TR and it's not surprising that Gauleiters would confer upon him their Honor Badges just in the hope of catching his attention. He was the Plenipotentiary for the implementation of the national economy’s Four Year Plan, and this gave him wide influence and responsibility, and his many other roles in the society and the military meant that he was at the very top of the heap!

As some here have also commented, Göring seldom wore his GPB, either...?!

Br. James

[luftkrieg]

I agree with Erich that Göring was courted by many in the TR and it's not surprising that Gauleiters would confer upon him their Honor Badges just in the hope of catching his attention. He was the Plenipotentiary for the implementation of the national economy’s Four Year Plan, and this gave him wide influence and responsibility, and his many other roles in the society and the military meant that he was at the very top of the heap!

As some here have also commented, Göring seldom wore his GPB, either...?!

Br. James

Br. James

Thank you for your additional response.

I have studied many photos of Göring and he rarely wears the GPB after 1940.

Getting back to my main question- personally I think it is likely that Göring received all three NSDAP Long Service Decorations.

Kind regards
Pierce