Order of the Red Eagle

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The Order of the Red Eagle (German: Roter-Adler-Orden) was an order of chivalry of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was awarded to both military personnel and civilians, to recognize valor in combat, excellence in military leadership, long and faithful service to the kingdom, or other achievements. As with most German (and most other European) orders, the Order of the Red Eagle could only be awarded to commissioned officers or civilians of approximately equivalent status. However, there was a medal of the order, which could be awarded to non-commissioned officers and enlisted men, lower ranking civil servants and other civilians.

[edit] History

The predecessor to Order of the Red Eagle was founded on November 17, 1705 by the Margrave Georg Wilhelm of Brandenburg-Bayreuth as the Order de la Sincerité. The Order de la Sincerité soon fell into disuse, but was revived in 1712 in Brandenburg-Bayreuth and again in 1734 in Brandenburg-Ansbach, where it first received the name "Order of the Red Eagle." In January 1792, both Brandenburg-Bayreuth and Brandenburg-Ansbach were absorbed by the Kingdom of Prussia, and King Frederick William II of Prussia again revived the order, now as a Prussian royal order, on June 12, 1792. After the Order of the Black Eagle, it was the second-highest ranking order in the kingdom.

In 1810, King Frederick William III of Prussia revised the statutes of the order, expanding it into three classes. In 1830, a breast star was added for the Second Class, and a Fourth Class of the Order was added. The statutes were further revised in 1861, including the addition of the Grand Cross as the highest class.

The order was abolished with the abdication of the German Kaiser in 1918 and the abolition of the Prussian kingdom.

[edit] Classes

By the time of World War I, the Order had evolved into six classes:

• Grand Cross - Grand Cross badge worn on a collar (chain) or on a sash on the right shoulder, plus a breast star on the left chest;
• 1st Class - badge worn on a sash on the right shoulder, plus a breast star on the left chest;
• 2nd Class - badge worn on a neck ribbon, plus a breast star on the left chest;
• 3rd Class - badge worn on a ribbon on the left chest;
• 4th Class - badge worn on a ribbon on the left chest;
• Medal - medal worn on a ribbon on the left chest.

Within these six classes, however, were a bewildering array of variations. Among these were:

• All classes but the Medal of the Red Eagle Order could be awarded with swords for distinction in wartime. The swords passed through the arms of the cross behind the center medallion.
• All classes above the 4th Class could be awarded with "Swords on Ring," indicating that the recipient of that class without swords had earlier received a lower class of the order with swords. A pair of crossed swords were worn above the cross on the suspension ring or above the medallion on the upper arm of the breast star.
• All classes could be awarded with or without crown as an added distinction.
• The Grand Cross, 1st and 2nd Class could be awarded with oakleaves, indicating prior receipt of the next lower class of the order, and/or with diamonds, as a special distinction.
• The 3rd Class could be awarded with bow (Schleife), indicating prior receipt of the 4th Class.
• Prussians who were Knights of the Order of St. John of Malta who received the Order of the Red Eagle and who had cared for sick and wounded soldiers in the German wars of unification received the order with a miniature of the badge of the Order of St. John of Malta.
• For 50 years of service, a Red Eagle recipient received the "Jubilee Number" (Jubiläumszahl), a round medallion with the number "50" on it, affixed to the suspension ring or to the oakleaves or the ring of the bow, if applicable.

There were also a set of special versions, the Stars 1st through 4th Class, for non-Christians.

[edit] Insignia

The badge of the Order for the Grand Cross was a gilt Maltese Cross enamelled in white, with red eagles between the arms of the cross; the gilt central disc bore the Royal monogram, surrounded by a blue enamelled ring bearing the motto of the Order, Sincere et Constante.

The badge for the 1st to 3th classes was a gilt cross pattée, enamelled in white; that for the 4th class was similar but in plain silver. The central disc bore the red eagle on a white enamel background.

The star of the Order was (for Grand Cross) a gilt eight-pointed star, (for 1st Class) a silver eight-pointed star, or (for 2nd Class) a silver four-pointed star with a white enamelled cross pattée, all with straight rays. The central disc bore the red eagle on a white enamel background, surrounded by a ring (enamelled blue for Grand Cross, white for the others) bearing the motto of the Order, Sincere et Constanter.

The ribbon of the Order was usually orange with white double edge stripes; however numerous variations of the insignia are known to have existed, depending on the nature of the specific award.