German Awards - Fire Honour Badge 1. Step

A new form of fire sign was established by decree of Adolf Hitler on January 30, 1938. Now 1st class was no longer awarded as a cross. The badge of honor continued to be awarded in 2 stages, but now both stages are on the tape. The 1st tier is gilded, the 2nd tier is silver plated. The 1st level should be awarded only in exceptional cases and thus become a particularly high award. The rules should be interpreted particularly narrowly. Persons who, thanks to outstanding achievements with a risk to life, fought the fire were awarded. If the conditions for awarding the Medal of Salvation or the Medal of Remembrance are met, they must be awarded as a priority. Also, special achievements in science, technology or organization of fire extinguishing could lead to the assignment of the 1st degree. There are crosses with spherical and ordinary ears. The suggestion that only crosses with an ordinary ear were made cannot be confirmed. In February 1943, the awards were to cease. But then it concerned only the assignment of the 2nd degree. The 1st degree continued to be awarded until 1945. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen before 1945, vol. IV, 2001.

Gilded bronze cross. Straight cruciform shoulders on the front side are golden bordered and enameled. Between the cruciform sleeves at a distance from each other is a circular gilded writing. On the front side of the patch is a round medallion. On the upper cruciform shoulder is an ordinary ear with a ribbon ring.

Front side:

• The cruciform arms are maroon golden and enameled white.
• On a white background is a golden burgundy red enameled cross of flame.
• Round central shield with gold and black enameled border.
• In on field on white enameled background
• black enameled and golden burgundy swastika placed on top
• On the gold ring between the cross sleeves, the inscription rises:
• Upper left: - FOR - VER-, upper right: - SERVICES -, lower left: - IM - FIRE -,
• Bottom right: - LÖSSCHESEN -.

Downside:

• Smooth and gilded.

Tape:

• Width 30 mm, edge stripes dark red 2 mm, side stripes orange 7 mm, central stripes white.

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