Nazi
Blue Max - Pour le Merite
Pour le Mérite with Oak Leaves
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max (German: Blauer Max),[1] was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I. The award was a blue-enameled Maltese Cross with eagles between the arms based on the symbol of the Johanniter Order, the Prussian royal cypher, and the French legend Pour le Mérite ("for Merit") arranged on the arms of the cross. A civil version of the order, for accomplishments in the arts and sciences, still exists in the Federal Republic of Germany. Military order The Pour le Mérite was first founded in 1740 by King Frederick II of Prussia, named in French, the language of the Prussian royal court at the time. Until 1810, the Order was both a civilian and military honor. In January of that year, King Frederick William III decreed that the award could be presented only to serving military officers. The Pour le Mérite is correctly called an "order", in which a man or woman is admitted into membership, and should not be referred to as a "medal" or "decoration". In March 1813, Frederick William III added an additional distinction, a spray of gilt oak leaves attached above the cross. Award of the oak leaves originally indicated extraordinary achievement in battle, and was usually reserved for high-ranking officers. The original regulations called for the capture or successful defense of a fortification, or victory in a battle. By World War I, the oak leaves often indicated a second or higher award of the Pour le Mérite, though in most cases the recipients were still high-ranking officers (usually distinguished field commanders fitting the criteria above; the few lower ranking recipients of the oak leaves were mainly general staff officers responsible for planning a victorious battle or campaign). In early 1918, it was proposed to award the oak leaves to Germany's top flying ace, Manfred von Richthofen, but he was deemed ineligible under a strict reading of the regulations. Instead, Prussia awarded von Richthofen a slightly less prestigious honor, the Order of the Red Eagle, 3rd Class with Crown and Swords. This was still a high honor, as the 3rd Class was normally awarded to colonels and lieutenant colonels, and von Richthofen's award was one of only two of the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords during World War I. In 1866, a special military Grand Cross class of the award was established. This grade of the award was given to those who, through their actions, caused the retreat or destruction of an army. There were only five awards of the Grand Cross: to King Wilhelm I in 1866, to Crown Prince Frederick William of Prussia (later Emperor Frederick III) and Prince Frederick Charles of Prussia in 1873, to Tsar Alexander II of Russia in 1878, and to Helmuth Graf von Moltke in 1879. The Pour le Mérite gained international fame during World War I. Although it could be awarded to any military officer, its most famous recipients were the pilots of the German Army Air Service (Luftstreitkräfte), whose exploits were celebrated in wartime propaganda. In aerial warfare, a fighter pilot was initially entitled to the award upon downing eight enemy aircraft.[1] Aces Max Immelmann and Oswald Boelcke were the first airmen to receive the award, on January 12, 1916.[1] Although it has been reported that because of Immelmann's renown among his fellow pilots and the nation at large, the Pour le Mérite became known, due to its color and this early famous recipient, as the Blue Max, this story is probably an urban legend. The number of aerial victories necessary to receive the award continued to increase during the war; by early 1917, it generally required destroying 16 enemy airplanes, and by war's end the approximate figure was 30. However, other aviation recipients included zeppelin commanders, bomber and observation aircrews, and at least one balloon observer. Although many of its famous recipients were junior officers, especially pilots, more than a third of all awards in World War I went to generals and admirals. Junior officers (army captains and lieutenants and their navy equivalents) accounted for only about 25% of all awards. Senior officer awards tended to be more for outstanding leadership in combat than for individual acts of bravery. Recipients of the Blue Max were required to wear the award whenever in uniform. The Order became extinct with Kaiser William II's abdication as King of Prussia on 9 November 1918, and was never awarded again to a new member. The last person to receive it was Theo Osterkamp.
SS Medal Bar
Obergruppenfuhrer Ribbon Bars
The two awards were virtually identical
in appearance, the only difference being in how they were worn.The Iron Cross
1st Class was awarded for three to five acts of bravery, and was worn pinned to
the left breast of the uniform, low down. The Iron Cross 2nd Class was awarded
for a single act of bravery. Generally only the ribbon of the award was worn,
in a downwards diagonal strip, sewn between the second tunic buttonhole and the
edge of the front closure of the tunic.
The Iron Cross was a military decoration
of the Kingdom of Prussia, and later of Germany, which was established by King
Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia and first awarded on 10 March 1813 in Breslau,
during the Napoleonic Wars. The Iron Cross was also awarded during the
Franco-German War, the First World War, and the Second World War.
The Iron Cross was normally a military decoration
only, though there were instances of it being awarded to civilians for
performing military functions. Two examples of this were the civilian pilot
Hanna Reitsch, who was awarded the Iron Cross First Class for her bravery as a
test pilot during the Second World War, and Melitta Schenk Gräfin von
Stauffenberg (also a German female test pilot), who was awarded the Iron Cross
Second Class.
The Iron Cross was also used as the symbol of the
German Army from 1871 to 1918, when it was replaced by a simpler Greek cross.
In 1956, the Iron Cross became the symbol of the Bundeswehr, the German
armed forces. The traditional design is black and this design is used on armoured
vehicles and aircraft. A newer design in blue and silver is used as the emblem
in other
Another
result was that there were more marriageable women available than men,
and thus a large number of women of child bearing age remained
'unproductive'.
Hitler
took positive steps to solve the population 'problem'.
One
such program was to advocate the virtues of motherhood, this program
included a gigantic propaganda campaign to urge women to increase the
size of their families.
NSB Dutch Nazi Party
The front side shows gilt
wolf hook over swastika with oak leaves. The back side shows around the
top edge of the circle the motto of the NSB in gilt "Hou En Trou"
and oak leaves on the bottom edge. The centre of the disc has the name
"Mussert" and "1941."
SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Insignia
This award was first made by Adolf Hitler posthumously to Reichsminister Fritz Todt at his funeral in February, 1942.A second posthumous award of the German Order was made to SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Reinhard Heydrich at his funeral in June of that same year.Cynics called the award the "dead hero order" as it was almost always awarded posthumously.
Iron Cross, or
Ritterkreutz des Eisernen Kreuzes, showing it's lineage from the Iron
Cross). It was larger than
the older Iron Cross but also of the Maltese Cross shape on a ribbon with black
edges, white inner stripes and a red centre
 
(Nazi)
German Cross in Gold. Also known as the War Order of the
German Cross, or the DK (Deutches Kreuz), this award, designed by
Professor Klein of Munich, was intended to reward combat gallantry,
ranking in precedence between the Iron Cross 1st Class and the Knight's
Cross of the Iron Cross.
It was not, however, a part of the
Iron Cross series of awards, being used in tandem with these, and worn
on the right breast.
One
of the most recognizable badges of the Third Reich is the German Eagle
clutching the swastika in a wreath. This is one on many variations of
what is loosely called the National Emblem.
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Allies
Distinguished Flying Cross
Never in the field of human conflict, was so much owed by so many to so few.
Let
us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves, that
if the British Empire and Commonwealth lasts a thousand years, men will
still say, this was their finest hour.
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC): The
Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel
of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to
officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour,
courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the
enemy".
The award was established on 3 June 1918, shortly after the formation of the RAF. It was originally awarded to air force commissioned officers and to Warrant Officers. During the Second World War it was also awarded to Royal Artillery officers from the British Army serving on attachment to the RAF as pilots-cum-artillery directors. Since the Second World War, the award has been open to army and naval aviation officers, and since 1993 to other ranks as well; the Distinguished Flying Medal, previously awarded to other ranks, has been discontinued. Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "DFC". A bar is added to the ribbon for holders of the DFC who received a second award.
Remember those not here today,
Those unwell and far away,
Those who never lived to see,
The end of war and victory,
And every friend who passed our way,
Remembered as of yesterday,
It's absent friends we miss the most,
To all, let's dringk a loving toast.
William Walker, Battle of Britain Spitfire Pilot (Aged 97 in 2010)
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The George Cross
The George
Cross (GC) is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom,
and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the
Commonwealth of Nations. The GC is the civilian counterpart of the
Victoria Cross (VC) and the highest gallantry award for civilians as well as
for military personnel in actions which are not in the face of the enemy or for
which purely military honours would not normally be granted. However,
the VC is higher in the order of wear and would be worn first by an individual
who had been awarded both decorations (which has not so far occurred).
Announcing the new award, the King said: "In
order that they should be worthily and promptly recognised, I have decided to
create, at once, a new mark of honour for men and women in all walks of
civilian life. I propose to give my name to this new distinction, which will
consist of the George Cross, which will rank next to the Victoria Cross, and
the George Medal for wider distribution."
The medal was designed by Percy Metcalfe. The
Warrant for the GC (along with that of the GM), dated 24 January 1941, was
published in the London Gazette on 31 January 1941.
The GC was intended to replace
the Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM); all holders of the EGM were instructed to
exchange their medals for a GC, a substitution of awards unprecedented in the
history of British decorations. This substitution policy ignored holders of the
Albert Medal (AM) and the Edward Medal (EM), awards which both took precedence
over the EGM. The anomaly was only rectified in 1971, when the
surviving recipients of the AM and the EM were invited to exchange their award
for the George Cross. Of the 64 holders of the Albert Medal and 68 holders of
the Edward Medal eligible to exchange, 49 and 59 respectively took up the
option.
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The George Medal (GM) is the second
level civil decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.
The GM was instituted on 24 September 1940 by
King George VI. At this time, during the height of The Blitz, there was a
strong desire to reward the many acts of civilian courage. The existing awards
open to civilians were not judged suitable to meet the new situation, therefore
it was decided that the George Cross and the George Medal would be instituted
to recognise both civilian gallantry in the face of enemy action and brave
deeds more generally.
The medal is granted in recognition of "acts
of great bravery." The GM was originally not issued posthumously, however the warrant
was amended in 1977 to allow posthumous awards, several of which have been
subsequently made.
The medal is primarily a civilian award; however
The George Medal may be awarded to military personnel for gallant conduct which
is not in the face of the enemy. As the Warrant states:
aThe Medal
is intended primarily for civilians and award in Our military services is to be
confined to actions for which purely military Honours are not normally granted.
Bars are awarded to the GM in recognition of the
performance of further acts of bravery meriting the award. In undress uniform
or on occasions when the medal ribbon alone is worn, a silver rosette is worn
on the ribbon to indicate each bar. Recipients are entitled to the
post nominal letters GM.
The details of all awards to
British and Commonwealth recipients are published in the London Gazette.
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Navy Cross
The
Navy Cross is the highest medal that can be awarded by the United
States Department of the Navy and the second highest award given for
valour. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States
Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but
could be awarded to all branches of United States military as well as
members of foreign militaries. It was established by Act of Congress
(Pub.L. 65-253) and approved on February 4, 1919. The Navy Cross is
equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross (Army) and the Air Force
Cross.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the
highest military decoration which is, or has been, awarded for valour "in
the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various
Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories.
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It takes precedence over all other orders,
decorations and medals. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any
service and to civilians under military command. In the United Kingdom, it is
usually presented to the recipient or to their next of kin by the British
monarch at an investiture held at Buckingham Palace. In those countries aside of Britain where the
Monarch of the Commonwealth realms is the head of state, the Governor-General usually fulfils the same
function.
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It is the joint highest award for bravery in the
United Kingdom with the George Cross, which is the equivalent honour for valour
not in the face of the enemy. However, the VC is higher in the order of
wear and would be worn first by an individual who had been awarded both
decorations (which has not so far occurred).
The VC was introduced on 29 January 1856 by Queen
Victoria to honour acts of valour during the Crimean War. Since then, the medal
has been awarded 1,356 times to 1,353 individual recipients. Only 13 medals,
nine to members of the British Army, and four to the Australian Army, have been
awarded since the Second World War. The traditional explanation of the source
of the gunmetal from which the medals are struck is that it derives from
Russian cannon captured at the siege of Sevastopol. Recent research has thrown
doubt on this story, suggesting a variety of origins for the material actually
making up the medals themselves.
Due to its rarity, the VC is highly prized and
the medal has fetched over £400,000 at auction. A number of public and private
collections are devoted to the Victoria Cross. The private collection of Lord
Ashcroft, amassed since 1986, contains over one-tenth of all VCs awarded.
Following a 2008 donation to the Imperial War Museum, the Ashcroft collection
went on public display alongside the museum's Victoria and George Cross
collection in November 2010.
Since 1990, three Commonwealth countries that
retain the Queen as head of state have instituted their own versions of the VC.
As a result, the original Victoria Cross is sometimes referred to as the
"Commonwealth Victoria Cross" or the "Imperial
Victoria Cross", to distinguish it from the newer awards.
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