German Order
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Deutscher Orden describes
- a charitable organization, known since 1190 as Teutonic Order, the medieval military order of Teutonic Knights
- as German Order (decoration), the highest decoration that the Nazi Party could bestow on an individual
[edit] Deutscher Orden nowadays
The Teutonic Order was founded by German speaking people as a hospital order outside Akkon in the Holy Land in 1190 during the Crusades. It later became an Catholic Order of Knighthood. In the 13th century, a powerful State developed in the territory of what was later called West Prussia. Since the 15th century, the Order gradually lost its political importance. Yet, its motto, "Help, defend, heal" was valid at all times. In 1809 the Teutonic Order was abolished by Napoleon and in 1939 Adolf Hitler abolished the Order again. The Teutonic Order has been administered from Vienna ever since. In the 1920s the structures of the Order were reorganized and the Order has been clerical since then. The Catholic Order has about 1000 members, among them 100 priests and 200 nuns, organised in 5 provinces ("Ballei"): Italy, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic und Slovenia. The former castle of the Teutonic Order in Bad Mergentheim served as the residence of the Grand and German Masters of the Teutonic Order from 1525 until 1809. Since 1996 the castle houses the modern Museum of this Catholic Order. The current residence of the Hochmeister, the head of order, is in Vienna, Singerstrasse 7. There is also a museum which is open to public and the archive of the order.