Police Long Service Award

Police Long Service Award
*Polizei-Dienstauszeichnung*
Police Long Service Award; Polizei-Dienstauszeichnung
	8, 18 & 25 year medals
Awarded for	Long service
Country	Nazi Germany
Eligibility	Members of the German Police
Motto	Für treue Dienste in der Polizei
Status	Obsolete
Established	30 January 1938

Last updated November 22, 2023

The Police Long Service Award (Germany) (Polizei-Dienstauszeichnung) was a long service medal awarded to active members of the German Police during the era of Nazi Germany as a political award. Professor Richard Klein designed the awards, which varied slightly in design depending on the length of service of the recipient.^[1]

History

On 30 January 1938, Adolf Hitler ordered the institution of an award for members of the police force who met qualifications based on length of service. The award was given in three grades to men who had served for eight, eighteen, and twenty-five years. The design of all three medals had the police insignia, which consisted of a national eagle emblem surrounded by a wreath, on the obverse side. All three awards were emblazoned with the inscription Für treue Dienste in der Polizei ("For faithful service in the Police") on the reverse.^[2] On 12 August 1944, a higher grade was authorized for 40 years of service. It was to be in the form of a gold metal bar with the number 40 with oak leaves, to be affixed onto the ribbon of twenty-five years award. There is no record of it being awarded prior to the end of World War II in Europe.^[3]

To qualify for the medal, a person had to be an active member of the police or "an administrator" in the police service. Military service time could also be applied to the total time of service needed for the award.^[4]

The Nazi Party and Schutzstaffel (SS) had a similar service award. The Nazi Party Long Service Award was given in grades of ten, fifteen, and twenty-five years.^[5] The SS Long Service Award was given in grades of four, eight, twelve, and twenty-five years.^[6] The award of the German armed forces, known as the Wehrmacht Long Service Award, was issued for four years (fourth class), twelve years (third class), 18 years (second class), 25 years (first class), and 40 years (1939 special class).^[7]

Grades

Eight year award

The eight-year service award was the third class silver medal. It was a round medal measuring 38 millimetres (1.5 in) suspended from a 35-millimetre (1.4 in) wide cornflower blue ribbon. The front side had the police insignia; the reverse side had a number 8 surrounded by the inscription Für treue Dienste in der Polizei in raised lettering.^[1]

Eighteen year award

The silver eighteen-year service cross was the second class award. The design was a silver-gray four-pointed cross (Ordenskreuz) measuring 43 millimetres (1.7 in) suspended from a cornflower blue ribbon with a woven police insignia. The ribbon varied in width; some were 37 millimetres (1.5 in) and others measured 51 millimetres (2.0 in). The obverse of the medal bore the police insignia of a national eagle emblem surrounded by a wreath. The reverse side was inscribed with Für treue Dienste in der Polizei in raised lettering.^[2]

Twenty-five year award

The gold twenty-five-year service cross was the first class award. It was of the same design as the second class award but the four-pointed cross (Ordenskreuz) was of gold rather than silver. The 18 and 25 year medals both had a similar presentation case: a hinged box with an exterior of green simulated leather, but with different interiors. The top of the case had either the number 18 or 25 embossed on it. The inside top lid of the case was white satin and the lower portion was velvet.^[8]

Insignia

Medal
Ribbon
For	8 years	18 years	25 years	40 years

Notes

1 2 Angolia 1989, p. 146.
1 2 Angolia 1989, pp. 146, 147.
↑ Angolia 1989, pp. 150, 151.
↑ Angolia 1989, pp. 146, 151.
↑ Angolia 1989, pp. 216, 217, 221.
↑ Angolia 1989, pp. 156–159.
↑ Angolia 1987, pp. 46, 49.
↑ Angolia 1989, pp. 146, 147, 148.

Related Research Articles

The Blood Order, officially known as the Decoration in Memory of 9 November 1923, was one of the most prestigious decorations in the Nazi Party (NSDAP). During March 1934, Hitler authorized the Blood Order to commemorate the 9 November 1923 coup attempt of the Nazi Party. The medal is silver, with the obverse bearing a depiction of an eagle grasping an oak leaf wreath. Inside the wreath is the date 9.Nov. and to the right is the inscription München 1923–1933. The reverse shows the entrance of the Feldherrnhalle in relief, and directly above is the angled swastika with sun rays in the background. Along the top edge is the inscription: UND IHR HABT DOCH GESIEGT.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">German Cross</span> Military award of Nazi Germany

The War Order of the German Cross, normally abbreviated to the German Cross or Deutsches Kreuz, was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941. It was awarded in two divisions: in gold for repeated acts of bravery or military leadership; and in silver for distinguished non-combat war service. The German Cross in Gold ranked higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, while the German Cross in Silver ranked higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords.

The War Merit Cross was a state decoration of Nazi Germany during World War II. By the end of the conflict it was issued in four degrees and had an equivalent civil award. A "de-Nazified" version of the War Merit Cross was reissued in 1957 by the Bundeswehr for its veterans.

Demyansk Shield was a World War II German military decoration awarded to Wehrmacht personnel who fought in the Demyansk pocket on the Eastern Front in the early months of 1942. The pocket of German troops had been encircled and cut off by the Red Army around Demyansk (Demjansk), south of Leningrad, and was successfully defended with the aid of an airbridge. The shield was instituted on 25 April 1943 by Adolf Hitler and was not bestowed after 1 July 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Medal</span> German campaign medal

The Eastern Medal, officially the Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal, was a military award of the Wehrmacht which was created by ordinance of Adolf Hitler on 26 May 1942.

Political decorations of the Nazi Party were medals and awards issued by the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) between 1920 and 1945. Political awards were authorized for wear on any paramilitary uniform of Nazi Germany, as well as civilian attire, but were generally discouraged on Wehrmacht military uniforms. The Waffen-SS freely wore both political awards and military decorations on their uniforms.

The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918, commonly but incorrectly known as the Hindenburg Cross or the German WWI Service Cross, was established by Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, President of the German Weimar Republic, by an order dated 13 July 1934, to commemorate service of the German people during the First World War. This was Germany's first official service medal for soldiers of Imperial Germany who had taken part in the war, and where they had since died it was also awarded to their surviving next-of-kin. Shortly after its issuance, the government of Nazi Germany declared the award as the only official service decoration of the First World War and further forbade the continued wearing of most German Free Corps awards on any military or paramilitary uniform of a state or Nazi Party organization.

The 1 October 1938 Commemorative Medal, commonly known as the Sudetenland Medal was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded during the interwar period, and the second in a series of Occupation Medals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anschluss Medal</span> Nazi Germany commemorative medal

The Anschluss Commemorative Medal was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded during the interwar period, and the first in a series of Occupation Medals.

The General Assault Badge was a military decoration awarded during World War II to personnel of the German Army, Waffen-SS and Ordnungspolizei who supported an infantry attack but were not part of specific infantry units and therefore did not qualify for the Infantry Assault Badge. It was instituted by General Walther von Brauchitsch on 1 June 1940.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SS Long Service Award</span>

SS Long Service Awards were medals that were given in grades of four years, eight years, twelve years, and twenty-five years. The four and eight-year service awards were in the form of circular medals while the 12 and 25-year service awards were in the form of swastikas. The SS service awards were designed in Munich by Professor Karl Diebitsch. The awards varied in design depending on the length of service of the recipient.

The Medal For Faithful Service in the National People’s Army was a medal issued in the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

The Civil Service Faithful Service Medal was a Nazi Germany medal of honor that was founded on 30 January 1938, in two grades, to reward civilians and military in the employ of the German public services for long and faithful service.

A Service award was awarded by a country to a soldier or civilian for long service. It is comparable to a service medal but can be awarded to civilians as well as soldiers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clasp to the Iron Cross</span> Award

The Clasp to the Iron Cross was a white metal medal clasp displayed on the uniforms of German Wehrmacht personnel who had been awarded the Iron Cross in World War I, and who again qualified for the decoration in World War II.

The Wehrmacht Long Service Award was a military service decoration of Nazi Germany issued for satisfactory completion of a number of years in military service.

The German Olympic Decoration was a civil decoration of Nazi Germany awarded to administrators of the IV Olympic Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Games of the XI Olympiad in Berlin 1936. The award was not intended for actual participants in the Olympic Games, but rather in recognition of those who had orchestrated the "behind the scenes" preparations and work for the events.

The Nazi Party Long Service Award, sometimes called the NSDAP Long Service Award, was a political award in the form of a badge of the Nazi Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cholm Shield</span> WW2 German military decoration

The Cholm Shield was a World War II German military decoration awarded to those who fought in the Cholm Pocket on the Eastern Front between 21 January and 5 May 1942. It was instituted on 1 July 1942 and is the rarest of the German combat shields, with approximately 5,500 recipients. Awards ceased to be bestowed on 1 April 1943.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faithful Service Medal (Transkei)</span> Award

The Faithful Service Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Transkei in 1987, for award to all ranks as a long service medal.

References

Angolia, John (1987). For Führer and Fatherland: Military Awards of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 0-912138-14-9.
Angolia, John (1989). For Führer and Fatherland: Political & Civil Awards of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 978-0-912-13816-9.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[FOOTNOTEAngolia1989146-1] 1 2 Angolia 1989, p. 146.

[FOOTNOTEAngolia1989146,_147-2] 1 2 Angolia 1989, pp. 146, 147.

[FOOTNOTEAngolia1989150,_151-3] Angolia 1989, pp. 150, 151.

[FOOTNOTEAngolia1989146,_151-4] Angolia 1989, pp. 146, 151.

[FOOTNOTEAngolia1989216,_217,_221-5] Angolia 1989, pp. 216, 217, 221.

[FOOTNOTEAngolia1989156–159-6] Angolia 1989, pp. 156–159.

[FOOTNOTEAngolia198746,_49-7] Angolia 1987, pp. 46, 49.

[FOOTNOTEAngolia1989146,_147,_148-8] Angolia 1989, pp. 146, 147, 148.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]