Order of the Red Eagle

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Order of the Red Eagle (Roter-Adler-Orden)

Order of the Red Eagle, Grand Cross breast star
Awarded by The Kingdom of Prussia
Type Order
Eligibility Civilians and military, Prussian and foreign, with rank/status determining which grade one received
Awarded for Merit
Status Obsolete
Statistics
Established June 12, 1792 (in Prussia)
Precedence
Next (higher) Order of the Black Eagle
Next (lower) Order of the Crown

Sash and Badge of the Order of the Red Eagle, Grand Cross

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.

Contents

[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 Brandenburg Red Eagle." The statutes were changed again in 1777, thus naming it the “Order of the Red Eagle.” The Order was conferred in one class, and was limited to 50 knights of 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 in the kingdom, in order of precedence.

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. By change in the statutes for the Order of the Black Eagle, every member of that order was automatically conferred with the new Grand Cross of the Order of the Red Eagle, as well as the Order of the Prussian Crown. By 1918, an affiliated soldier’s medal had also been made available to non-nobles and enlisted personnel.

The monarchy collapsed, November 9, 1918. Though Wilhelm II formally abdicated his personal claims to the throne on November 28, 1918, he admonished his former subjects to “render assistance to those in actual power” until the “re-establishment of order in the German Empire.” (1923 Source Records of the Great War, Vol. VI, edited by Charles F. Horne.) A new German constitution was signed into law, August 11, 1919, more or less ending the monarchy for good. All orders and decorations formally conferred by the monarchy ceased to exist. Awardees of the Order continued to wear it with their other decorations through the eras of the Weimar Republic, Third Reich, and afterwards.

[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 oak leaves, 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 oak leaves 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 enameled in white, with red eagles between the arms of the cross; the gilt central disc bore the Royal monogram, surrounded by a blue enameled ring bearing the motto of the Order, Sincere et Constante.

The badge for the 1st to 3rd classes was a gilt cross pattée, enameled 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 on the obverse, with the royal cipher of King Friedrich Wilhelm on the reverse. The enlisted man’s medal was of a relatively simple, round design, topped with the Prussian crown, with a depiction of the regular badge in the center of the medal on the obverse, with the royal cipher of the reigning monarch on the reverse.

The breast 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 enameled cross pattée, all with straight rays. The central disc bore the red eagle on a white enamel background, surrounded by a ring (enameled blue for Grand Cross, white for the others) bearing the motto of the Order, Sincere et Constanter.

The traditional ribbon of the Order was white with two orange stripes, but combat awards were frequently conferred with a black and white ribbon, similar to that of the Iron Cross. Numerous variations of the insignia are known to have existed, depending on the nature of the specific award.

[edit] List of Knights

The following lists show a fair cross section of individuals who were known to be conferred with the Order in its several classes, in order of precedence. The Order of the Red Eagle was conferred frequently upon foreign nationals, both royal and non-royal, to honor their individual position or work and to further the diplomatic relations with their respective nations, in much that same way the Most Excellent and Honorable Order of Bath is still conferred, by the monarchy in Great Britain. The following is only a partial list and may expand over time, with further research.

[edit] Sovereigns (1705 – 1918)

Georg Wilhelm, Markgraf of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, who founded the Order de la Sincerité
Georg Wilhelm, Markgraf of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, who founded the Order de la Sincerité
  • Georg Wilhelm, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth (11/16/1678 – 12/18/1726), Sovereign of the Order de la Sincerité, from November 17, 1705; and from 1712 to 12/18/1726.
  • Karl Wilhelm Friedrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach (5/12/1712 – 8/3/1757), revived the Order as its Sovereign, 1734 – August 3, 1757, renamed the order as the Order of the Red Eagle (Roter-Adler-Orden)
  • Karl Alexander, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach and Brandenburg-Bayreuth (2/24/1736 – 1/5/1806), Sovereign from August 3, 1757 to January 16, 1791, when the two territories were annexed by Prussia
  • Friedrich Wilhelm II, King of Prussia (9/25/1744 – 11/16/1797), revived the Order as its first Sovereign as a Prussian order, June 12, 1792 – 11/16/1797
  • Friedrich Wilhelm III, King of Prussia (8/3/1770 – 6/7/1840), Sovereign from 11/16/1797 – 6/7/1840; revised the statutes in 1810 to add 2nd and 3rd classes; added 2nd class breast star and a 4th class, 1830
  • Friedrich Wilhelm IV, King of Prussia (10/15/1795 – 1/2/1861), Sovereign from 6/7/1840 to 1/2/1861
  • Wilhelm I, King of Prussia and German Emperor (3/22/1797 – 3/9/1888), Sovereign from 1/2/1861 to 3/9/1888; revised the statutes to add the Grand Cross, 1861
  • Friedrich III, King of Prussia and German Emperor (10/18/1831 – 6/15/1888), Sovereign from January to June 1888
  • Wilhelm II, King of Prussia & German Emperor (1859 – 1941), invested 1/27/1869; Sovereign from June 15, 1888 to November 28, 1918.

[edit] Grand Cross (1861 – 1918)

Großadmiral Alfred von Tirpitz, wearing his Order of the Red Eagle, Grand Cross
Großadmiral Alfred von Tirpitz, wearing his Order of the Red Eagle, Grand Cross

German / Prussian

  • Empress Augusta (1811 – 1890), wife and empress consort of Kaiser Wilhelm I
  • GFM Albrecht Theodore Emil, Graf von Roon (1803 – 1879) – previous 3rd Class Knight, automatically awarded the Grand Cross in conjunction with being awarded with the Order of the Black Eagle, ca 1866, for service during the war with Austria, immediately after his success at the battle of Nikolsburg.
  • Otto Theodor frhr von Manteuffel (1805 – 1882), Prussian Minister of the Interior (Prime Minister), 1848; awarded the Grand Cross, with Scepter and Crown, by Friedrich Wilhelm IV
  • Prince Heinrich of Prussia, second son of Friedrich III and brother of Wilhelm II
  • Empress Augusta Viktoria (1858 – 1921), wife and empress consort of Kaiser Wilhelm II
  • Nikolay Karlovich Giers (1820 – 1895), Russian Foreign Minister and architect of the Franco-Russian Alliance; Grand Cross (by statute of the Order of the Black Eagle), July 23, 1888* Gen.-Lt. Constantin von Alvensleben (1809 – 1892), invested with the Grand Cross, 1892, by statute of the Order of the Black Eagle
  • Otto von Bismark (1815 – 1898), German Statesman, Prussian Chancellor and Prime Minister of the German Empire
  • Gen-Lt. Ferdinand graf von Zeppelin (1838 – 1917), aviator, inventor of the airship, and founder of Zeppelin Airship Company
  • GFM (later Reichspräsident) Paul von Hindenburg (1847 – 1934), invested with the Grand Cross, with Oak Leaves and Swords
  • GFM Helmuth von Moltke (the Elder), (1800 – 1891), Chief of the German General Staff
  • Crown Prince Wilhelm of Prussia, Crown Prince of the German Empire (1882 – 1951), invested ca. his 10th birthday, 1892
  • Prince Eitel Friedrich of Prussia (1883 - 1942), second son of Kaiser Wilhelm II
  • Prince Adalbert of Prussia (1884 - 1948), third son of Kaiser Wilhelm II
  • Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia (1887 - 1949), fourth son of Kaiser Wilhelm II
  • Prince Oskar of Prussia (1888 - 1958), fifth son of Kaiser Wilhelm II
  • Bernhard frhr von Bülow, Minister of Foreign Affairs, conferred, January 6, 1898, for his successes in advancing relations with China.
  • Prince Joachim of Prussia (1890 - 1920), sixth son of Kaiser Wilhelm II
  • Dr. Schoenstedt, Prussian Minister of Justice, invested with the Grand Cross of the Order on the occasion of Kaiser Wilhelm II’s birthday, January 27, 1900
  • Ernst frhr von Hammerstein-Loxten (1827 - 1914), Prussian Minister of Agriculture, conferred on the occasion of Kaiser Wilhelm II’s birthday, January 27, 1900
  • Prince Friedrich Sigismund of Prussia (1891 - 1927), nephew of Kaiser Wilhelm II, pilot during the Great War, invested with the Grand Cross with Crown
  • Paul von Breitenbach (1850 – 1930), German Statesman; invested with the Grand Cross of the Order, 1913, by statute of the Order of the Black Eagle
  • Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI
  • Großadmiral Alfred von Tirpitz (1849 - 1930); conferred with the Order of the Red Eagle, Grand Cross, with Crown; also conferred with the Order of the Black Eagle
  • Korvettenkapitän Gerhard Stubenrauch (b. 1880) – previously awarded the Knight’s Cross, 4th Class, Stubenrauch was the commander of all naval aviation in the Kaiserlich Marine

Foreign

Field Marshal the Prince Leopold of Bavaria, wearing the Grand Cross
Field Marshal the Prince Leopold of Bavaria, wearing the Grand Cross

[edit] Knights, First Class (1705 – 1918)

Karl August Fürst (Prince) von Hardenberg, ca 1822, by Friedrich Georg Weitsch. Hardenberg wears the badge of the Order of the Red Eagle, 1st Class, above his other orders
Karl August Fürst (Prince) von Hardenberg, ca 1822, by Friedrich Georg Weitsch. Hardenberg wears the badge of the Order of the Red Eagle, 1st Class, above his other orders

German

  • Wilhelm frhr von Humbolt (1767 – 1835) (Prussia), German language scholar and statesman
  • Karl August, Prince of Hardenburg (1750 – 1822), Chancellor of State (Prussia), 1804 – 1806; 1807; and 1810 – 1822
  • Ludwig von Massow, awarded the 1st Class with Oak Leaves
  • Ludwig III, Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt (1806 - 1877), awarded the 1st Class with Swords
  • Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, awarded the Order, 1st Class, with Oak Leaves, on the occasion of Kaiser Wilhelm II’s birthday, January 27, 1900 (Source: New York Times)
  • Dr. Studt, Minister of Public Instruction, awarded the Order, 1st Class, on the occasion of Kaiser Wilhelm II’s birthday, January 27, 1900
  • Count Hochberg, awarded the Order, 1st Class, on the occasion of Kaiser Wilhelm II’s birthday, January 27, 1900
  • Generalleutnant á la suite Viktor Adolph Theophil von Podbielski (1844 – 1916), hussar general, Prussian Minister of Agriculture, Postmaster General, and President of the German Olympic Committee; awarded 1st Class, Jan 27, 1902
  • Baron Spech von Sternburg, Prussian Consul to Calcutta, German Ambassador to the United States, awarded the 1st Class, Jan 5, 1903
  • Anton von Werner (1871 – 1914), awarded the Order, 1st Class, 1912; previously awarded the 2nd Class
  • GenObst Felix Graf von Bothmer of Bavaria (1852 – 1937), conferred with the Order, 1st Class, January 17, 1914
  • Gen-Lt Philipp von Hellingrath of Bavaria (1862 – 1939), awarded the 1st Class with Swords, Nov 14, 1918; previously awarded the 2nd Class (7 JUN 1914)

Foreign

  • Prince Talleyrand of France, Envoy of Emperor Napoleon I (Napoleon Bonaparte) of the French, to Russia, 1807; conferred with both the Order of the Black Eagle and the Red Eagle, before 1807
  • Prince Alexander Borisovich Kourakin of Russia, Envoy of Tsar Alexander I of Russia, to France, 1807; conferred with both the Black Eagle Order and Red Eagle Order, before 1807
  • Prince Leopold of Belgium (future Leopold II), Duke of Brabant, awarded the Order, 1st Class
  • Count Maximilian van Lerchenfeld-Koefering, Chamberlain to the King of Bavaria, and envoy to the United States; conferred before 1845
  • Ali Pasha of Tepelen and of Yannina, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, awarded the Order, 1st Class (for non-Christians), 1851
  • Kemal Effendi, Turkish Ambassador to Berlin, awarded the Order, 1st Class (for non-Christians), July 2, 1857

[edit] Knights, Second Class (1810 – 1918)

Order of the Red Eagle, 2nd Class, badge & neck ribbon
Order of the Red Eagle, 2nd Class, badge & neck ribbon
ADM Curt von Prittwitz, wearing the badge & star of the 2nd Class
ADM Curt von Prittwitz, wearing the badge & star of the 2nd Class

German

  • Mayer Carl frhr von Rothschild (1820 - 1886), King’s Court-Banker for Frankfurt, awarded the 2nd Class (for non-Christians), August 14, 1857
  • Dr. Albert Sigismund Jaspis (1809 – 1885), Generalsuperintendant of Pommern in Stettin, awarded the 2nd Class, with Bow, by Kaiser Wilhelm I, 1/18/1863
  • Anton von Werner (1871 – 1914), court painter to the Prussian royal family; awarded the Order 2nd Class, Jan 20, 1895, and awarded the breast star of the 2nd Class, Mar 30, 1902
  • Johann Heinrich frhr von Bernstorff (1862 - 1939), Ambassador to the United States, conferred with the Order, 2nd Class, on December 24, 1909
  • Gen der INF Otto von Below (1857 – 1944), awarded the Order, 2nd Class, with oak leaves and with breast star, bef. 1914
  • Gen. der INF Karl rttr von Fasbender of Bavaria (1852 – 1933), conferred with the Order, 2nd Class, with Crown, and with breast star
  • Gen der INF Paul rttr von Kuenßl of Bavaria (1862 – 1928), awarded the 2nd Class with swords, 12 JUN 1915; previously awarded the 4th Class, pre-WW1
  • Gen-Lt Nikolaus rttr von Endres of Bavaria (1862 – 1938), awarded the 2nd Class with swords24 AUG 1917; previously awarded the 3rd Class with swords, pre-WW1
  • Gen der Kav Ludwig frhr von Gebsattel of Bavaria (1857 – 1930), awarded the 2nd Class with breast star; previously awarded the 3rd Class with Crown
  • Gen-Lt (later Gen der KAV) Otto von Stetten of Bavaria (1862 – 1937); awarded the 2nd Class, prior to WW1
  • Gen-Lt ( and later Gen der ARTy) Hermann frhr von Stein (1859 – 1928); awarded the 2nd Class with swords & the 2nd Class breast star with swords, 20 JAN 1917; previously awarded the 3rd Class, prior to WW1
  • Gen-Maj ( later Gen-Lt) Ludwig rttr von Tutschek of Bavaria (1864 – 1937); awarded the 2nd Class with Swords, 3 Feb 1917; previously awarded the 4th Class, prior to WW1
  • Gen-Lt (later Gen der INF) Hermann von Kuhl (1858 – 1956); awarded the 2nd Class with Oak Leaves and swords, and the 2nd Class breast star, 15 JAN 1916 & 12 JAN 1918
  • Gen-Lt Wilhelm Gröner of Württemberg (1867 – 1939), awarded the 2nd Class with Crown & Swords, and with breast star, 15 Jun 1918; previously awarded the 2nd Class w/o breast star (16 AUG 1917), 3rd Class (19 JUL 1913), 4th Class with Crown (17 Sep 1909); & 4th Class (11 SEP 1907)
  • Gen-Lt Constantin Wilhelm Albert Müller, awarded the breast star of the Order, 2nd Class, with Oak leaves and Swords, by Kaiser Wilhelm II, 10/23/1918; Previously awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords
  • Vice ADM Franz von Hipper (?), German hero of the Battle of the Jutland; awarded the Order, 2nd Class; previously awarded the 3rd Class with Bow and 4th Class with Crown
  • Vizeadmiral (Vice Admiral) and Admiral à la suite (honorary [full] Admiral) Bernhard Otto Curt von Prittwitz und Gaffron (1849 - 1922); veteran of the Austro-Prussian War and Franco-Prussian War, closely linked with Großadmiral (Grand Admiral) Prince Heinrich of Prussia, his frequent predecessor in various naval command stations.
  • Baron Guenther Heinrich von Berg (1765-1843) Statesman, Doctor of Law, Judge, Legislator. Invested 28th June, 1820.

Foreign

  • Mustafa-ed-din Bey, Turkish First Dragoman, awarded the 2nd Class (for non-Christians), September 14, 1855
  • Mohammed Essad Safvet-Effendi, Turkish Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, awarded the 2nd Class (for non-Christians), September 14, 1855
  • Admiral of the Fleet Sir John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe of Great Britain (1859 - 1935), awarded the Order, 2nd Class, with swords, for actions in China during the Boxer Rebellion, where he served as a captain.
  • Frederick J.V. Skiff, Field Museum of Chicago, Paris Exhibition (1900) organizer, and Director of Exhibits, St. Louis Exhibition (1906), awarded 2nd Class, Jan 12, 1906, for work with the St. Louis World’s Fair
  • J.P. Morgan (1837 - 1913), American Banker, honored after gifting an original letter from Martin Luther to Emperor Charles V back to Germany, June 26, 1911
  • Nicholas Murray Butler, President of Columbia University, for building the exchange program between American and German professors, and winner of the 1931 Nobel Peace Prize
  • Professor Hugo Münsterberg, Harvard Exchange Professor at Berlin, awarded the Order, 2nd Class, August 23, 1911
  • James Speyer, American banker and president of the banking house Speyer & Company, awarded the 2nd Class, Jan 20, 1912
  • His Princely Highness Pakubuwono X (1866 - 1939), the 10th Susuhunan, ruler of the past Surakarta (now in present Surakarta, Indonesia), awarded the Order, 2nd Class, with Star.

[edit] Knights, Third Class (1810 – 1918)

Order of the Red Eagle, 3rd Class, with Crown and Swords
Order of the Red Eagle, 3rd Class, with Crown and Swords
Manfred von Richthofen, who was awarded the Order of the Red Eagle, 3rd Class, with Crown and Swords, for his 70th victory, April 1918
Manfred von Richthofen, who was awarded the Order of the Red Eagle, 3rd Class, with Crown and Swords, for his 70th victory, April 1918
  • Major (later Field Marshal) Albrecht von Roon (1803 – 1879) – awarded the Knights Cross, 3rd Class for actions and service during the Baden insurrection, 1848
  • Oberst (Colonel) Louis Lust, commander of the Captain-Cadet School, awarded the Knight’s Cross, 3rd Class, with Bow, by Kaiser Wilhelm I, 12/19/1878
  • Captain von Dresky (later Rear Admiral) – awarded the Knight’s Cross, 3rd Class, with swords and ribbon, for actions while in command of the cruiser SMS Habicht.
  • Hermann von Wissman, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords, September 3, 1894
  • Oberst Friedrich von Scholl, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords, 1895
  • Oberst Pavel, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords for actions in Cameroon, 1902
  • Hauptmann (army Captain) Franke, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords, for actions in South West Africa (Namibia), 1904
  • Käptain zur Sea (naval Captain) Pohl, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords for actions in East Asia, 1905
  • Oberst (future Generalleutnant) Constantin Wilhelm Albert von Müller, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords for actions in Camerooon, 1905
  • John Schroers, Chairman of Education and the Educational Congresses, and later Director of the St. Louis World's Fair, 1904 - 1906; awarded the 3rd Class, Feb 23, 1905, for work with the St. Louis World’s Fair
  • Oberstleutnant von Estorff, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords for actions in South West Africa, 1905
  • Howard J. Rogers, Chief of the Department of Education & Social Economics, involved with St. Louis Exhibition (1906); awarded the 3rd Class, Jan. 12, 1906, for work with the St. Louis World’s Fair
  • Oberst Constantin von Falkenhayn, commander of 5. Badisches Infantry-Regiment Nr 113, awarded the 3rd Class, with Bow, June 1913
  • Georg, Crown Prince of Greece (Later King George II of Greece), awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords, 1913
  • Gen der Art. Konrad Krafft von Dellmensingen of Bavaria (1862 – 1953); Received the Order, 3rd Class, before WWI
  • Gen der Kav Ludwig frhr von Gebsattel, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown; later awarded the 2nd Class with breast star
  • Oberst (later Gen-Maj) Hans rttr von Hemmer of Bavaria (1869 – 1931); awarded 3rd Class with swords, 15 MAY 1915; previously awarded the 4th Class, pre-WW1
  • R-Adm Franz von Hipper; awarded the 3rd Class with Crown, date unknown
  • Oberst (Colonel) Richard Franz Joseph Haegele, awarded the 3rd Class, with Bow and Swords (two times black, three white striped ribbon), 12/14/1916
  • Oberst Scmidt, awarded the 3rd Class, with Bow and Swords (2 x black, 3 x white), 12/22/1917
  • Rittmeister (cavalry Captain) Manfred Albrecht frhr von Richthofen (1892 – 1918)also known as "The Red Baron", awarded the 3rd Class, with Crown & Swords, for earning an unprecedented 70th aerial victory as Germany’s top fighter ace of the Great War, April 6, 1918. This was one of only two such awards during the Great War for someone of company grade rank.
  • Oberst Klehmet, awarded the 3rd Class, with Bow and Swords (2 x black, 3 x white), 5/25/1918
  • Oberstleutnant Maercker, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords for actions during the Great War, November 16, 1918.

[edit] Knights, Fourth Class (1830 – 1918)

Order of the Red Eagle, 4th Class
Order of the Red Eagle, 4th Class
  • Sevki Bey, District Governor of Aclun (Northern Syria, Ottoman Empire), awarded the 4th Class
  • Captain von Dresky (later Rear Admiral) – awarded the 4th Class, with swords, for actions at Miang while in command of the cruiser SMS Habicht.
  • Leutnant Paul von Hindenburg (later GFM & Reichspresaident) – awarded the 4th Class, with swords, after actions against the Austrians at Königrätz, July 3, 1866
  • Heinrich Johannes Halke, awarded the 4th Class, 1/18/1886
  • Hauptman (Captain) Constantin von Falkenhayn, awarded the 4th Class, for service in the Füsilier-Regiment Fürst Karl-Anton von Hohenzollern (Hohenzollernsches) Nr 40, January 1900
  • Rittmeister Richard Franz Joseph Haegele, awarded the 4th Class, 10/21/1901, for service as commander of the East Asian Field Bakery in the Prussian Army; Later awarded the 4th Class with Swords, for actions in South West Africa (modern day Namibia)
  • Rittmeister (later Generalmajor) Arthur Hay, prior-enlisted cavalry officer, May 12, 1901
  • Adolf Werner (Artillery Officer), awarded the 4th Class, 1904
  • Frederick Winslow Taylor (1856 – 1915), mechanical engineer; President of the American Society of mechanical Engineers, who is credited for innovations in management principles; awarded the 4th Class, Jan. 12, 1906, for work with St. Louis World’s Fair
  • Tarleton Hoffman Bean (1846 – 1916), first Curator of Fishes at the Smithsonian Institution; Director of the Forestry and Fisheries exhibit at the Paris Exhibition, 1900; Chief of the Departments of Fish, Game and Forestry, St. Louis World’s Fair, 1902 - 05; awarded the 4th Class, Jan 12, 1906, for work with the St. Louis World’s Fair
  • Dr. Joseph Austin Holmes (1859 – 1915), geologist, and first director of the Bureau of Mines, credited with advances in mine safety, and for the slogan “Safety First”; Chief of Mines and Metallurgy at the St. Louis World’s Fair, 1904 – 1906; awarded the 4th Class, Jan 12, 1906, for work with the St. Louis World’s Fair
  • F.D. Hirschberg, Chairman of Reception and Entertainment, St Louis World’s Fair, 1904 – 1906; awarded the 4th Class, Jan 12, 1906, for work with the St. Louis World’s Fair
  • John H. McGibbons, Secretary of Awards for Division of Exhibitions, St. Louis World’s Fair, 1904 – 1906; awarded the 4th Class, Jan 12, 1906, for work with the St. Louis World’s Fair
  • Carl Friedrich Rohte, awarded the 4th Class, 8/22/1907, for service to the Crown
  • General Wilhelm Heye, awarded the 4th Class with swords
  • Obst-Lt (later Gen der ARTy) Friedrich frhr Kreß von Kressenstein of Bavaria (1870 – 1948); awarded the 4th Class prior to WW1
  • Ernst Friederich Ludwig Scheyder, Amtsrat, presented with Red Eagle August 10, 1911, for dedicated service to the crown

[edit] Medal for Enlisted Men

Order of the Red Eagle Medal (for enlisted men)
Order of the Red Eagle Medal (for enlisted men)
  • Musicmeister Jacob Peuppus, 2. Infanterie-Regiments Kronprinz; awarded November 16, 1900
  • Feldwebel August Keller, 2. Infanterie-Regiments Kronprinz; awarded November 16, 1900
  • Sergenten Maximilian Büchert, 2. Infanterie-Regiments Kronprinz; awarded November 16, 1900
  • Wachtmeister Otto Grieszing, 1. Schwerin Reiter-Regiment Prinz Karl von Bayern; awarded November 16, 1900
  • Matthias Kürmeher, 4. Infanterie-Regiments, König Wilhelm von Württemberg; awarded June 15, 1903
  • Karl Lemnitz, 2. Fuß-Artillerie-Regiments, Königliche von Preußen; awarded June 15, 1903
  • Fortunatus Klun, Hof-Saal-Kammerdiener, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Adolf Zimmerman, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Thomas Drozda, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Franz Fahnier, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Josef Kramlinger, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Josef Blaha, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Georg Schögl, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903

[edit] Sources