Hitler’s decorations

[Dez H]

Dear Collectors

I am trying to uncover what awards Adolf Hitler during his military and political career would have been awarded/entitled to. It is interesting to note that Hitler rarely wore any of his many decorations besides his Iron Cross first class and his Golden Party Badge. In some pictures and films you can see Hitler wearing his GPB, EK and his black wound badge. I have never seen a picture of Hitler wearing any other decorations. I find this quite strange. It is a quite striking contrast to see Hitler and Goring standing together, maybe this was the image Hitler was trying to project to the German people, a common soldier. “One of the common folk” types. Surely Hitler would also have been awarded a Hidenburg Cross, War commemorative cross, NSDAP long service awards.

The following is a list of awards I have been able to uncover that Hitler received.

2 December 1914: Hitler receives the Iron Cross, Second Class. (Quite an early recipient.)
17 September 1917: Hitler receives the Military Service Cross Third Class with Swords.
Bavarian war merit cross??
9 May 1918: Hitler received his third citation for a feat performed at Fontaine: the Regimental Decoration for "outstanding bravery in the face of the enemy." List regiment?
16 May 1918: Hitler receives wound badge in black.
4 Aug 1918: Hitler was awarded the Iron Cross, 1st Class.

The recommendation for Hitler's Iron Cross First Class was signed on July 17, 1918 by Lieutenant-Colonel Michael Freiherr von Godin, which read:
As a runner his coolness and dash in both trench and open warfare have been exemplary, and invariably he has shown himself ready to volunteer for tasks in the most difficult situations and at great danger to himself. Whenever communications have been totally disrupted at a critical moment in a battle, it has been thanks to Hitler's unflagging and devoted efforts that important messages continued to get through despite every difficulty

Does anyone have any further information or comments to add?
Thanks in advance.

Hitler in all his splendor, clearly showing him wearing his GPB, EK and wound badge. :



Dez

[Shawn]

You are correct: Bavarian Military Merit Cross, 3rd Class with Swords.

[Bill D.]

In one of Tom johnson's "Collecting WW II German War Booty" volumes I believe that he has a photograph of a medal bar apparently removed fromHitler's arartment in Munich by an American soldier. It bears the 1914 EK II and the Bavarian Military Merit Cross. I don't recall it bearing the Hindenburg Cross. Hitler was also the recipient of Blood Order number 1, and there are photographs of him wearing this medal on occassion.

[George Stimson]

Hey Dez

I had a similar interest a while back so I did some research and came up with the following:

Hitler's WW 1 decorations and awards -

1. EK 2, awarded 12/14/17 (Source: Fest bio).
2. Bavarian Military Cross 3rd Class, with swords,
awarded 9/17/17.
3. A Regimental Diploma for Signal Bravery in Attack, awarded May, 1918.
4. Black Wound Badge (Hitler was wounded by shrapnal in his left thigh on 10/4/16 and by poison gas on 10/13/18.).
5. EK 1, awarded 8/4/18.
6. Medal of Military Service, third class, awarded a few days after his EK 1.

Below, a medal bar consisting of #s 2, 1, and 6 from above:



During the Third Reich era he would have also been eligible for:

1. Hindenburg Cross for Combatants.
2. Golden Party Badge.
3. Blood Order.
4. 25-year Long Service Award of the NSDAP. (He could also have worn the third and second class versions of this medal.)
5. Coburg Badge.
6. SA Rally at Brunswick Badge.
7. Nuremburg Party Day Badge of 1929.
8. Wound Badge of 20. Juli 1944.
9, 10, & 11. The "Flower Wars Medals." (Himmler wore all three.)

Had he been so inclined he could have awarded himself the German Order, The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, and probably anything else. Also, he could have accepted awards or decorations from foreign countries such as Italy, Japan, Finland, and Rumania.

Hitler's attitude on wearing decorations:

"As far as my own private existence is concerned, I shall always live simply -- but in my capacity of Fuhrer and Head of the State, I am obliged to stand out clearly from amongst all the people around me. If my close associates glitter with decorations, I can distinguish myself from them only by wearing none at all." (Hitler's Table Talk, pages 79-80)

G'day!

George

[Bruce Simcox]

I always wondered....

.....but didn't quite know how to approach this question I am going to pose for you all.

About a month ago, I got to wondering about Hitler's EK 1.

My question is this: Did the man wear only the Imperial EK 1 or, at some time did he ever start to wear the Third Reich EK 1??

I haven't diligently researched this myself, but am wondering if any one else has noticed if he did indeed include the Third Reich EK 1 for wear on his garb??

I understand, that as the Dictator of Nazi Germany, he could have worn just about anything he pleased, whether he was qualified to or not. Which makes me wonder, as well, was the Third Reich EK 1 considered an appropriate and legal substitute for the Imperial EK 1, as opposed to the addition of the spange??

Curious.

--------------------

Bruce

[George Stimson]

Hitler's EK

I am very certain that Hitler only wore the 1914 version EK 1. In some photos you can tell that he is wearing a vaulted example. And in one film of him giving a speech I have seen his cross at a 45 degree angle off of normal, which indicated to me that he was wearing a screwback version which came loose.

George

[Dez H]

G'day George!!

Thank you for you most informative response, I have seen the video footage you mention. I think it is of just after Hitler came to power in 1933. You can clearly see his Iron Cross spinning around freely, definitely a screw back and vaulted. Hitler owning several Iron Crosses would not be unusual. I remember watching a documentary on TV a while back, where one of his bodyguards recollects how Hitler had 10 pairs of boots all the same. Had several uniforms etc…. all identical.

Bruce; As for 1939 EK’s being used as replacements for 1914’s I don’t think this was ever done. I could be wrong though. But replacement Ek’s for the Third Reich still bore the Imperial Crown and 1914 date just used the 1939 frames. In every photo I have seen of Hitler he wore a vaulted 1914 Iron Cross.



Dez

[Bruce Simcox]

Thanks

Hi George and Dez,

Thank you both for your responses. As I mentioned earlier, this was just one of those things that tickled my curiosity enough to seek a bit more information.

This has been an interesting and informative thread.

--------------------

Bruce

[Dez H]

Hello Bruce

Here is an example of a Third Reich strike 1914 Iron Cross. As you can see the frames are wide. has all the characteristics of a 1939 Cross, the core still features the 1914 details though. Hitler may well have worn a pre LDO produced replacement piece, who knows?


http://rgordon4.tripod.com/decorations/id63.html


De

[W. C. Stump]

HITLER WEARING THE BLOOD ORDER

I have just been sent from the files of Otto Spronk a great picture of Hitler wearing his Blood Order. However, I can't post pictures on this forum. If someone will step up and assist, I will send them the photo to post, compliments of the Otto Spronk Research and Photographic Files. Send me a private message with your email address or copy the image on the German Dagger forum where I have posted the picture.

[Dez H]

Here is the picture described by Mr Stump. Copied from the German Daggers Forum. This is truly a rare 1920’s glimpse at the early days of Hitler. Many thanks goes out to Mr Stump for making this available.




Dez

[W. C. Stump]

THANKS TO MY FRIEND OTTO

It was my pleasure to share the information and photograph provided me from my friend Otto Spronk. He has devoted many years to researching this hobby and preserving his information for the collectors of today and for those that follow. I look forward to sharing additional information that Otto hopefully will continue to provide.

[George Stimson]

Late!

I just got the same picture from Bill and had it ready to post, but Dez beat me to it!
Anyway, it's a great picture -- one I had not seen before!

George

[Dez H]

To put a further twist in the story.

Sorry about pipping you at the post there George.

To put a further twist in this amazing story, can anyone confirm the fact that Lieutenant Hugo Gutmann, Lance-Corporal Hitler's direct superior officer from January 29 to August 31, 1918 was indeed Jewish? This is the very same Lieutenant who recommended Hitler for his Iron Cross first class. On April 15, 1915, Gutmann was promoted to Lieutenant, and after that he acted as adjutant for the regiment List's artillery battalion. Freiherr von Tubeuf commanded regiment List however he was absent between July 16 and August 4 1918. In his absence Regiment List was commanded by Freiherr von Godin. This very same Lieutenant Colonel signed Hitler's recommendation for his Iron Cross on July 17, 1918.

Does anyone have anything more to add?


Dez

[Erich B.]

photo

Dez, I think you mean that the photo dates from the 30's, not the 20's. The Blood Order was not awarded until 1934. The photo is taken from the dust jacket of the cigarette card album "Adolf Hitler" which was first published in 1936.

I have also read in several AH biographies that Gutmann was Jewish.

Erich