The Order of Merit of the German Eagle (German: Verdienstorden vom Deutschen Adler) was an award of the German Nazi regime, predominantly to foreign diplomats. The Order was instituted on 1 May 1937 by Adolf Hitler.[1]
It ceased to be awarded following the collapse of Nazi Germany at the end of World War II in Europe. The wearing of the Order of Merit of the German Eagle is prohibited in the Federal Republic of Germany.
Criteria
The Order of Merit of the German Eagle was a diplomatic and honorary award given to prominent foreigners, particularly diplomats.
In addition to awards to non-Germans, the Reich Foreign Minister and the Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia received a 'Special Degree' (Sonderstufe), with identical insignia to the Grand Cross of the Order. Accordingly, Foreign Minister Constantin von Neurath, received the Special Degree of the Order, with a further award to Joachim von Ribbentrop on his appointment as Foreign Minister in 1938.[2] In 1943 Dr. Wilhelm Frick received the Special Degree after becoming Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia.[3]
Appearance and classes
Insignia of the order
The Cross is based on the Maltese Cross with German Eagles at each corner carrying a swastika. For military recipients the Order also featured crossed swords.[1] The cross was suspended from a 46 mm red ribbon with stripes in black, red and white. The award, in the first two classes, also came in the form of a silver or gold eight pointed star, with corresponding white Maltese Cross and gold eagles centered. The overall appearance and name of the Order resembled the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle, Order of the Red Eagle and Order of Saint John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg).
From 1937 to 1943 the Order was presented in six classes:[2]
Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle with star (Grosskreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens)
Order of the German Eagle with Star (Deutscher Adlerorden mit Stern)
Order of the German Eagle 1st Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Erste Stufe)
Order of the German Eagle 2nd Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Zweite Stufe)
Order of the German Eagle 3rd Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Dritte Stufe)
German Medal of Merit (Deutsche Verdienstmedaille)
A unique Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the German Eagle in Gold with Diamonds (Grosskreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens in Gold und Brillanten) was also awarded to Benito Mussolini on 25 September 1937.[2]
On 27 December 1943 the Order was reorganised into nine classes:[2]
Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle in Gold with Star (Goldenes Grosskreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens)
Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle with Star (Grosskreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens)
Order of the German Eagle 1st Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Erste Stufe)
Order of the German Eagle 2nd Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Zweite Stufe)
Order of the German Eagle 3rd Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Dritte Stufe)
Order of the German Eagle 4th Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Vierte Stufe)
Order of the German Eagle 5th Class (Deutscher Adlerorden, Fünfte Stufe)
Silver Medal of Merit (Silberne Verdienstmedaille)
Bronze Medal of Merit (Bronzene Verdienstmedaille)
Recipients
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the German Eagle in Gold with Diamonds
Thomas J. Watson, chairman of IBM, 1937. Watson was also president of the International Chamber of Commerce in 1937; the medal was awarded while the ICC was meeting in Germany that year. He returned it to Hitler in 1940. [13]
Ernest G. Liebold, Henry Ford's private secretary, was awarded Order of the German Eagle 1st Class in September 1938.[14]
Plaek Phibunsongkhram, Prime Minister of Thailand. was awarded Order of the German Eagle 1st Class in 1939[15]
Charles Lindbergh was awarded the Order of the German Eagle with Star on 19 October 1938.[2]
James Mooney, General Motors' chief executive for overseas operations, was awarded Order of the German Eagle 1st Class on 9 June 1938. [16]
Giovanni Gentile, Knight of the Order of the German Eagle Class II (July 1940).
Ing. Ugo Conte (1884–1951), Rome Chief Engineer, was awarded Order of the German Eagle 2nd Class on 16 December 1938 for leading team in the construction of first German motorway.
Finnish leader of the Lotta Svärd organization Fanni Luukkonen was awarded the Order of the German Eagle with Star in 1943. She was the only non-German woman to receive the medal.[18]
Carlos de Aymerich y Muñoz de Baena (1896-1980), Spanish officer, awarded 2nd class order June, 1, 1939.[citation needed]
^
David Littlejohn; Colonel C. M. Dodkins. (1968). Orders, Decorations, Medals and Badges of the Third Reich. R.James Bender Publishing California. p. 20 confirms all 3 German recipients.
^
Cabadas, Joe (2004). River Rouge. MotorBooks/MBI Publishing Company. p. 75. ISBN978-0-7603-1708-2.
cited in
Joe Cabadas (2008). River Rouge. Motorbooks International. ISBN9780760317082. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
^Washington National Records Center, Suitland, Maryland; WNRC, RG 84, Stockholm Legation Confidential files 1946-1947, Box 4, American Legation, Stockholm, to Department of State (No. 7447), 1946-10-09.
^Geoffrey G. Jones, Adrian Brown, "Thomas J. Watson, IBM and Nazi Germany", Harvard Business School Case 9-807-133, October 2008
^Lewis, David L. (1976). The Public Image of Henry Ford: An American Folk Hero and His Company. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. pp. 149–150. ISBN0814318924.
