The following are translations of decorations and awards (and in some cases their abbreviations) which appear in the text. For further information on and illustrations of these and other medals and badges, go to the links page of this website.



Ritterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuz (RK d. E.K.):
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Abbreviation "RK" is used to designate Knight's Cross of Iron Cross, while "RK m. KVK" is given to designate the Knight's Cross of the War Service Cross.


Ritterkreuz des E.K. mit Eichenlaub (RK m. EL): Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves (881 awarded).


Ritterkreuz des E.K. mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern (RK m. EL u. Schw.):
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves and Swords (158 awarded).


Ritterkreuz des Eisernes Kreuz mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern, und Brillanten (RK m. EL, Schw., u. Brill.):
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves, Swords, and Diamonds (27 awarded).


Ritterkreuz des E.K. mit goldenem Eichenlaub mit Schwertern und Brillanten (RK d. EK m. G.EL, Schw., u. Brill.)
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oakleaves, Swords, and Diamonds (1 awarded, to Oberst Hans-Ulrich Rudel of the Luftwaffe).

Kriegsorden des Deutschen Kreuz in Gold/Silber (DK/Gold; DK/Silber) (shortened to "Deutsches Kreuz" in text):
War Order of the German Cross in Gold or Silver.


1939 Spange zum 1914 Eisernes Kreuz I./II. Klasse (1939 Spange zum 1914 EK I/II):
1939 Bar to 1914 Iron Cross First/Second Class.


1939 Eisernes Kreuz I/II Klasse (1939 EK I/II):
1939 Iron Cross First/Second Class.


Ehrenblattspange des Heeres:
Honor Roll Clasp of the Army (Inst.: 30. Jan. 1944).


Ehrentafelspange der Kriegsmarine:
Honor Table Clasp of the Navy (Inst.: 13. May 1944).


Ehrenblattspange der Luftwaffe:
Honor Roll Clasp of the Air Force (Inst.: 5. Aug. 1944).


Ritterkreuz des Kriegsverdienstkreuzes [mit Schwertern/ohne Schwerter] (RK d. KVK [m. Schw./o. Schw.]):
Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross [with Swords/without Swords].


Kriegsverdienstkreuz I./II. Klasse [mit Schwertern/ohne Schwerter] (KVK I/II):
War Merit Cross First/Second Class [with Swords/without Swords].


Verwundetenabzeichen, 1939 in Schwarz/Silber/Gold:
Wound Badge, 1939 in Black/Silver/Gold


Infanterie-Sturmabzeicen:
Infanry Assault Badge.


Panzerkampfabzeichen:
Tank Battle Badge.


Allgemeines Sturmabzeicen:
General Assault Badge.


Bandenkampfabzeichen:
Anti-Partisan War Badge.


Nahkampfspange:
Close Combat Bar (awarded in bronze, silver, and gold for 15, 30, and 50 days, respectively of unsupported close and hand-to-hand combat).


Flugzeugf�hrerabzeichen:
Luftwaffe Pilot's Badge.


Frontflug-Spange:
Operational Flying Clasps of the Luftwaffe.

Medaille "Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42" - Ostmedaille:
Medal for the Winter Campaign in Russia, 1941/1942 - East Medal (aka~ "Frozen Flesh" Medal).


Medaille zur Erinnerung an die Heimkehr des Memellandes:
Commemmorative Medal of the Return of the Memel District (20. Mar. 1939)


Spange "Prager Burg":
Prague Castle Bar (awarded to those involved in the takeover of Bohemia and Moravia in Mar. 1939; Bar was affixed to the ribbon of the 1. Oct. 1938 Commemmorative Medal).


Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938:
Commemmorative Medal of 1 October 1938 (for those involved in annexation of the Sudetenland).


Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. M�rz 1938:
Commemmorative Medal of 13 March 1938 (for those involved in the annexation [Anschluss] of Austria).


Wehrmacht-Dienstauszeichnungen:
Armed Forces Long Service Awards.


Deutscher Orden: German Order (Inst.: 11. Feb. 1942). Highest award of NSDAP (apparently in three classes- Commander's Cross, Second Class, and Third Class).


Goldenes Parteiabzeichen
Golden Party Badge [of the NSDAP].


Goldenes Hitler-Jugend Ehrenabzeichen:
Golden Hitler Youth Honor Badge.


Goldenes Hitler-Jugend Ehrenzeichen mit Eichenlaub:
Golden Hitler Youth Honor Badge with Oakleaves.


Coburger Abzeichen (1922):
Coburg Badge (commemmorating the 14/15. Oct. 1922 "Battle of Coburg" between the Nazis and Communists.


Ehrenzeichen vom 9. November 1923 - Blutorden::
Decoration of 9. November 1923 - Blood Order.


Nurnberger Parteitagsabzeichen 1929::
Nuremberg Party Day Badge, 1929.


Dienstauszeichnungen der NSDAP:
Long Service Awards of the NSDAP (in Bronze, Silver, and Gold).


SS-Dienstauszeichnungen:
SS Long Service Awards.


Polizei-Dienstauszeichnungen:
Police Long Service Awards


Ehrendegen des RF-SS:
Honor Sword of the Reichsf�hrer-SS.


Totenkopfring der SS:
Death's Head Ring of the SS/


Deutsches Reichssportabzeichen:
German National Sport Badge (in Bronze, Silver, and Gold).


SA-Sportabzeichen:
SA Sports Badge (in Bronze, Silver, and Gold).


Deutsches Reiterabzeichen:
German Horseman's Badge (in Bronze, Silver, and Gold).


Deutsche Olympiaehrenzeichen:
German Olympic Games Decoration (in 1st and 2nd Classes).


Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen:
Defense Wall Honor Award (for completion of the "Siegfried Line").


Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes:
Decorations of the German Red Cross.


Ehrenzeichen f�r Deutsche Volkspflege:
German Social Welfare Decoration.


Verdienstorden vom deutschen Adler:
Meritorious Order of the German Eagle.


Goldenes Grosskreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens:
Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle in Gold.


Ehrenkreuz 1914-1918:
Cross of Honor 1914-1918 (Inst.: 13. Jul. 1934), with and without swords (generally referred to as "Ehrenkreuz f�r Frontk�mpfer" in text [Frontk�mpfer= Frontline Combatants"], awarded with swords for frontline service, without swords for rear echelon service.


Orden "Pour le m�rite" (Plm):
Order for Merit (popularly known as the "Blue Max"). Highest military award of Germany in World War I.

Landesorden:
Awards presented by the individual German states (L�nder) for World War I service.

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