Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe

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The Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe) was a Luftwaffe award established on February 27, 1940 by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the Ehrenpokal "für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg", or Honor Goblet "For Special Achievement in the Air War". The award was given only to flying personnel (pilots and aircrew). Recipients' named were published in the periodical Ehrenliste der Deutschen Luftwaffe (Honor List of the German Air Force). German archival records indicate that approximately 58,000 were awarded, but only 13-15,000 goblets were actually presented.

The award was made to aircrew who had already been awarded the Iron Cross First class but whose had not had performance that merited the German Cross or Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.

The actual goblet could be produced in two materials, fine silver (German: Feinsilber) or also in German Silver (German: Alpaka) or Nickel silver. The size is about 200 mm tall x 100 mm in diameter. The object was produced in two pieces which were fitted together into one unit. The obverse depicts two eagles in mortal combat while the reverse bears an Iron Cross in high relief. Oak leaves and acorns adorn the stem. The words "Für Besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg" are formed into the base, the meaning as given above.

[edit] World War I predecessors

The design of the Ehrenpokal was based on a World War I aviation award, the Ehrenbecher für den Sieger im Luftkampfe, or Honor Goblet for the Victor in Air Combat. This award was generally given upon one's first victory in aerial combat (although the actual award bestowal might come some time after the victory). It has been reported but the late aviation historian Neal O'Connor was unable to confirm before his death that the requirement for aerial victories may have been increased later in the war as air combat became somewhat more commonplace. The exact number of awards is unknown, but it was less common than its World War II successor.

Among notable recipients of the Ehrenbecher für den Sieger im Luftkampfe were:

Oswald Boelcke – December 24, 1915; One of Germany's top aces of World War I; also received the Pour le Mérite.
Otto Deßloch – award date unknown; later a Colonel General in the Luftwaffe; also received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves.
Hermann Göring – April 15, 1916; Later Reichsmarschall; also received the Pour le Mérite, Baden's Military Karl-Friedrich Merit Order, numerous other decorations.
Georg Ritter von Hengl – July 17, 1918; Knighted with the Bavarian Military Order of Max Joseph in October 1918; later rose to General of Mountain Troops and commanded the 2nd Mountain Division and XIX Mountain Corps.
Max Immelmann - December 24, 1915; German World War I ace whose early exploits and fame led to the nickname for the Pour le Mérite as the "Blue Max"; also received the Knight's Cross and Commander's Cross of Saxony's Military Order of St. Henry.
Bruno Loerzer – award date unknown; the #8 German ace of World War I, also received the Pour le Mérite; later a Colonel General in the Luftwaffe.
Theo Osterkamp – April 18, 1917; naval aviator and Pour le Mérite recipient; also flew in World War II and rose to Lieutenant General in the Luftwaffe.
Manfred von Richthofen - award date unknown; top German ace of World War I; also received the Pour le Mérite, Saxony's Military Order of St. Henry, Württemberg's Military Merit Order and numerous other decorations.
Kurt Student – award date unknown; later a Colonel General in the Luftwaffe and commander of German airborne troops
Ernst Udet – August 17, 1916; second highest scoring German ace of World War I; also received the Pour le Mérite; later a Colonel General in the Luftwaffe.

The Imperial German Navy had its own aviation forces in World War I, and created its own non-portable award for victory in aerial combat. This was the Ehrenpreis für Vernichtung eines feindlichen Flugzeugs, or Honor Prize for the Destruction of an Enemy Aircraft. This was not a goblet, but a trophy of two eagles engaged in a mid-air fight.

There was also another, even rarer, Imperial German award, the Ehrenbecher für erfolgreiche Angriffe aus der Luft, or Honor Goblet for Successful Attacks from the Air. This was apparently only bestowed a handful of times, to members of bomber or Zeppelin crews for certain successful attacks.