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The Order of Merit of the German Eagle (german: Verdienstorden vom Deutschen Adler) was an award of the German
Nazi Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in ...
regime, predominantly to foreign diplomats. The Order was instituted on 1 May 1937 by
Adolf Hitler Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Germany from 1933 until his death in 1945. He rose to power as the leader of the Nazi Party, becoming the chancellor in 1933 and the ...
. It ceased to be awarded following the collapse of
Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...
at the end of
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
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 Ulrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop (; 30 April 1893 – 16 October 1946) was a German politician and diplomat who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nazi Germany from 1938 to 1945. Ribbentrop first came to Adolf Hitler's not ...
on his appointment as Foreign Minister in 1938. In 1943 Dr.
Wilhelm Frick Wilhelm Frick (12 March 1877 – 16 October 1946) was a prominent German politician of the Nazi Party (NSDAP), who served as Reich Minister of the Interior in Adolf Hitler's cabinet from 1933 to 1943 and as the last governor of the Protectorate ...
received the Special Degree after becoming Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia.


Appearance and classes

The Cross is based on the
Maltese Cross The Maltese cross is a cross symbol, consisting of four " V" or arrowhead shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles, two tips pointing outward symmetrically. It is a heraldic cross variant which develope ...
with German Eagles at each corner carrying a
swastika The swastika (卐 or 卍) is an ancient religious and cultural symbol, predominantly in various Eurasian, as well as some African and American cultures, now also widely recognized for its appropriation by the Nazi Party and by neo-Nazis. I ...
. For military recipients the Order also featured crossed swords. 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 The Order of the Black Eagle (german: Hoher Orden vom Schwarzen Adler) was the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. The order was founded on 17 January 1701 by Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg (who became Friedrich I, King i ...
,
Order of the Red Eagle The Order of the Red Eagle (german: Roter Adlerorden) 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 se ...
and
Order of Saint John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg) Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...
. From 1937 to 1943 the Order was presented in six classes: # 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 Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (; 29 July 188328 April 1945) was an Italian politician and journalist who founded and led the National Fascist Party. He was Prime Minister of Italy from the March on Rome in 1922 until his deposition in ...
on 25 September 1937. On 27 December 1943 the Order was reorganised into nine classes: # 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

*
Benito Mussolini Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (; 29 July 188328 April 1945) was an Italian politician and journalist who founded and led the National Fascist Party. He was Prime Minister of Italy from the March on Rome in 1922 until his deposition in ...
, Italy


Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the German Eagle in Gold with Star

The Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the German Eagle in Gold was awarded at least fifteen times: *
Ion Antonescu Ion Antonescu (; ; – 1 June 1946) was a Romanian military officer and marshal who presided over two successive wartime dictatorships as Prime Minister and ''Conducător'' during most of World War II. A Romanian Army career officer who mad ...
, Chief-of-staff of the Romanian army * King Boris III of
Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedo ...
* Galeazzo Ciano Conte di Cortelazzo, Italy * Roberto Farinacci, Italy *
Francisco Franco Francisco Franco Bahamonde (; 4 December 1892 – 20 November 1975) was a Spanish general who led the Nationalist forces in overthrowing the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War and thereafter ruled over Spain from 193 ...
, Spanish dictator, ''de facto'' Regent of Spain and general (last holder of the Grand Cross at the time of his death in 1975). * Dr.
Wilhelm Frick Wilhelm Frick (12 March 1877 – 16 October 1946) was a prominent German politician of the Nazi Party (NSDAP), who served as Reich Minister of the Interior in Adolf Hitler's cabinet from 1933 to 1943 and as the last governor of the Protectorate ...
, Reichsminister *
Heinrich Himmler Heinrich Luitpold Himmler (; 7 October 1900 – 23 May 1945) was of the (Protection Squadron; SS), and a leading member of the Nazi Party of Germany. Himmler was one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany and a main architect of th ...
, Reichsführer SS * Admiral Miklós Horthy, Hungary * Field Marshal
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim (, ; 4 June 1867 – 27 January 1951) was a Finnish military leader and statesman. He served as the military leader of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War of 1918, as Regent of Finland (1918–1919), as c ...
, Commander-in-Chief of the Finnish armed forces *
Constantin Freiherr von Neurath Konstantin Hermann Karl Freiherr von Neurath (2 February 1873 – 14 August 1956) was a German diplomat and Nazi war criminal who served as Foreign Minister of Germany between 1932 and 1938. Born to a Swabian noble family, Neurath began his dip ...
, Reich Foreign Minister * General
Hideki Tojo Hideki Tojo (, ', December 30, 1884 – December 23, 1948) was a Japanese politician, general of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), and convicted war criminal who served as prime minister of Japan and president of the Imperial Rule Assistan ...
, Japanese Prime Minister * General Hiroshi Ōshima, Japanese ambassador * Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, Commander In Chief of the Combined Fleet *
Joachim von Ribbentrop Ulrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop (; 30 April 1893 – 16 October 1946) was a German politician and diplomat who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nazi Germany from 1938 to 1945. Ribbentrop first came to Adolf Hitler's not ...
, Reich Foreign Minister * Risto Ryti, President of Finland


Grand Cross

* Luang Praditmanutham (
Pridi Banomyong Pridi Banomyong ( th, ปรีดี พนมยงค์, , ; 11 May 1900 – 2 May 1983), also known by his noble title Luang Praditmanutham ( th, หลวงประดิษฐ์มนูธรรม) was a Thai politician and professo ...
), Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, 1938. * Phya Rajawangsan, Thai envoy extraordinary and minister
plenipotentiary A ''plenipotentiary'' (from the Latin ''plenus'' "full" and ''potens'' "powerful") is a diplomat who has full powers—authorization to sign a treaty or convention on behalf of his or her sovereign. When used as a noun more generally, the wor ...
to Germany (based in London), 1938 * Prince
Wan Waithayakon Wan Waithayakon (full title: His Royal Highness Prince Vanna Vaidhayakara, the Prince Naradhip Bongsprabandh), known in the West as ''Wan Waithayakon'' (1891–1976), was a Thai royal prince and diplomat. He was President of the Eleventh Session ...
of Siam, 1938 *
Henry Ford Henry Ford (July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947) was an American industrialist, business magnate, founder of the Ford Motor Company, and chief developer of the assembly line technique of mass production. By creating the first automobile that ...
was awarded the Grand Cross of the German Eagle on his 75th birthday, 30 July 1938. * General Ljubomir Marić, Yugoslavian Defense Minister, 21 November 1938. * Ivo Andrić was awarded the Grand Cross of the German Eagle, 19 April 1939. * Japanese Marshal Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle on 9 February 1940. * Swedish explorer Sven Hedin was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle on his 75th birthday on 19 February 1940.Wennerholm, Eric. Sven Hedin - En biografi * General Olof Thörnell, Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces, was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle 7 October 1940. * Swedish banker and industrial leader Jacob Wallenberg, awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle, Berlin 1941. *
Achille Starace Achille Starace (; 18 August 1889 – 29 April 1945) was a prominent leader of Fascist Italy before and during World War II. Early life and career Starace was born in Sannicola, province of Lecce, in southern Apulia. His father was a wine and ...
, Secretary of the Fascist Party of Italy * Jozef Tiso, Roman Catholic priest, President of the First Slovak Republic *
Serafino Mazzolini Serafino Mazzolini (9 June 1890 – 23 February 1945) was an Italian lawyer, fascist politician, and journalist. Early life Mazzolini was born in Arcevia, in the Marche. He founded a nationalist group in Macerata, and soon became editor of th ...
, Foreign Minister, Fascist Party of Italy 1943


Other classes

Number awarded unknown. * Emil Kirdof, director of the
Gelsenkirchen Gelsenkirchen (, , ; wep, Gelsenkiärken) is the 25th most populous city of Germany and the 11th most populous in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia with 262,528 (2016) inhabitants. On the Emscher River (a tributary of the Rhine), it lies ...
industrial consortium (awarded by Hitler on 8 April 1937). * Thomas J. Watson, chairman of IBM, 1937. Watson was also president of the
International Chamber of Commerce The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC; French: ''Chambre de commerce internationale'') is the largest, most representative business organization in the world. Its over 45 million members in over 100 countries have interests spanning every sec ...
in 1937; the medal was awarded while the ICC was meeting in Germany that year. He returned it to Hitler in 1940. *
Ernest G. Liebold Ernest G. Liebold (March 16, 1884 – March 4, 1956) was the business representative and personal secretary of Henry Ford. A fervent antisemite, he took an active part in the antisemitic campaign conducted by the industrialist's weekly newspaper, ' ...
, Henry Ford's private secretary, was awarded Order of the German Eagle 1st Class in September 1938. *
Plaek Phibunsongkhram Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram ( th, แปลก พิบูลสงคราม ; alternatively transcribed as ''Pibulsongkram'' or ''Pibulsonggram''; 14 July 1897 – 11 June 1964), locally known as Marshal P. ( th, จอมพล � ...
, Prime Minister of Thailand. was awarded Order of the German Eagle 1st Class in 1939 *
Charles Lindbergh Charles Augustus Lindbergh (February 4, 1902 – August 26, 1974) was an American aviator, military officer, author, inventor, and activist. On May 20–21, 1927, Lindbergh made the first nonstop flight from New York City to Paris, a distance o ...
was awarded the Order of the German Eagle with Star on 19 October 1938. *
James Mooney James Mooney (February 10, 1861 – December 22, 1921) was an American ethnographer who lived for several years among the Cherokee. Known as "The Indian Man", he conducted major studies of Southeastern Indians, as well as of tribes on the ...
,
General Motors The General Motors Company (GM) is an American Multinational corporation, multinational Automotive industry, automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and ...
' chief executive for overseas operations, was awarded Order of the German Eagle 1st Class on 9 June 1938. *
Giovanni Gentile Giovanni Gentile (; 30 May 1875 – 15 April 1944) was an Italian neo-Hegelian idealist philosopher, educator, and fascist politician. The self-styled "philosopher of Fascism", he was influential in providing an intellectual foundation for ...
, Knight of the Order of the German Eagle Class II (July 1940). *
Tomoyuki Yamashita was a Japanese officer and convicted war criminal, who was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. Yamashita led Japanese forces during the invasion of Malaya and Battle of Singapore, with his accomplishment of conquerin ...
, Knight of the Order of the German Eagle, 1st Class. * 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 Minister of Defence
Rudolf Walden Karl Rudolf Walden (1 December 1878 in Helsinki – 25 October 1946) was a Finnish industrialist and a military leader. Education Walden received his military education at the Hamina Cadet School and graduated in 1900. He was dismissed from se ...
was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle. * 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. * Carlos de Aymerich y Muñoz de Baena (1896-1980), Spanish officer, awarded 2nd class order June, 1, 1939.


See also

*
Order of the Red Eagle The Order of the Red Eagle (german: Roter Adlerorden) 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 se ...
(Prussian) *
Order of the Black Eagle The Order of the Black Eagle (german: Hoher Orden vom Schwarzen Adler) was the highest order of chivalry in the Kingdom of Prussia. The order was founded on 17 January 1701 by Elector Friedrich III of Brandenburg (who became Friedrich I, King i ...
(Prussian) *
Order of Saint John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg) Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...
(Prussian)


References


External links


The German Eagle Order, 1st type. Orders and Medals Society of America.
{{DEFAULTSORT:German Eagle, Order Orders, decorations, and medals of Nazi Germany Awards established in 1937