Order of the German Eagle

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The Order of the German Eagle (German: Verdienstorden vom Deutschen Adler) was instituted in 1 May 1937 by Adolf Hitler. It was awarded with swords to military personnel and without swords to civilians.

The Cross is based on the Maltese Cross with German Eagles at each corner carrying a swastika. The appearance and name of the Order was an imitation of the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle and Order of the Red Eagle.

According to Gesetz über Titel since 1957 it has been illegal to wear the Cross of the German Eagle (or other Nazi swastika symbols) in Germany.

It has been illegal to display the swastika or SS Runes since World War II ended, but in 1957, a legislation was passed to allow certain de-nazified service medals and insignia to be worn by veterans and serving ex-Wehrmacht soldiers in the fledgling Bundeswehr of West Germany. The items have no swastikas and no SS runes allowed, most Third Reich political awards remain forbidden. The wearing of and displaying in public of, the swastika, SS runes, or the displaying of any other Nazi symbols is still forbidden in Germany, Austria, Italy, France, etc.

Contents 1 Requirements 2 Classes 3 Recipients 4 See also

[edit] Requirements

The Order of the German Eagle was a diplomatic and honorary award given to non-Germans who were considered deserving. At least two exceptions were made, Constantin von Neurath was awarded a Special Degree of the Order of the German Eagle 20 April 1939 and so was Joachim von Ribbentrop when he became Foreign Minister.

[edit] Classes

Several different classes existed, the following was used 1937-1943:

1. Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle (Grosskreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens)
2. Order of the German Eagle with Star (Deutscher Adlerorden mit Stern)
3. Order of the German Eagle 1st Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Erste Stufe)
4. Order of the German Eagle 2nd Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Zweite Stufe)
5. Order of the German Eagle 3rd Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Dritte Stufe)
6. German Medal of Merit (Deutsche Verdienstmedaille)

The classes was reorganised 27 December 1943:

1. Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle in Gold (Goldenes Grosskreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens)
2. Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle (Grosskreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens)
3. Order of the German Eagle 1st Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Erste Stufe)
4. Order of the German Eagle 2nd Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Zweite Stufe)
5. Order of the German Eagle 3rd Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Dritte Stufe)
6. Order of the German Eagle 4th Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Vierte Stufe)
7. Order of the German Eagle 5th Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Fünfte Stufe)
8. Silver Medal of Merit (Silberne Verdienstmedaille)
9. Bronze Medal of Merit (Bronzene Verdienstmedaille)

[edit] Recipients

A special Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle in Gold with Diamonds (Grosskreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens in Gold und Brillanten) was awarded to Benito Mussolini 25 September 1937.

Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle in Gold

The Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle in Gold was awarded eight times:

• Ion Antonescu, Chief-of-staff of the Romanian Army
• King Boris III of Bulgaria
• Galeazzo Ciano Conte di Cortelazzo, Italy
• Francisco Franco, Spanish Politician and General
• Admiral Nikolaus von Horthy
• Field Marshall Carl Gustav Emil Mannerheim, Commander in Chief of the Finnish Armed forces
• General Hiroshi Oshima, Japanese Ambassador
• Risto Ryti, President of Finland
• Jozef Tiso, President of Slovakia

Other classes

Number awarded unknown.

• Emil Kirdof, director of the Gelsenkirchen industrial consortium (awarded by Hitler on 8 April 1937)
• Thomas J. Watson, president of IBM 1938. Watson was also president of the International Chamber of Commerce in 1938; the medal was awarded while the ICC was meeting in Germany that year.
• Henry Ford was awarded the Grand Cross of the German Eagle on his 75th birthday, 30 July 1938.
• General Olof Thörnell, Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, was awarded the Grand Cross of the German Eagle 7 October 1940.
• Charles Lindbergh was awarded the Order of the German Eagle with Star 19 October 1938.
• James Mooney, General Motor's chief executive for overseas operations, was awarded Order of the German Eagle 1st Class
• Swedish Explorer Sven Hedin was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle on his 75st birthday on 19 February 1940
• Finnish Minister of Defence Rudolf Walden was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle

[edit] See also

• Order of the Red Eagle (Prussian)
• Order of the Black Eagle (Prussian)