German awards - Honorary badge of the fire department of the 1st Reich. Class 1936 Plug Cross

On June 22, 1936, the Reich Minister of the Interior, Dr. Frick, established the fire department badge of honor for 2 classes. The badge of honor was presented by the police chief. Persons who received merits in extinguishing the fire were awarded. Provincial and provincial fire association awards were replaced by this award and were no longer given. 1st class was awarded to members of professional and volunteer fire brigades and others who earned special merits in extinguishing a fire or distinguished themselves by particularly courageous and decisive behavior in the fight against fires. The 2nd class badge of honor was awarded to active members of recognized professional and volunteer fire brigades who completed 25 years of service. 1st class was awarded as a particularly valuable award only to active warriors who, at the risk of their lives, deserved exceptional and repeated participation in extinguishing fires. When fulfilling the requirements for awarding the Lifeguard Medal, it must be awarded as a priority. That is why instances of the 1st class are very rare. It is also known to reduce the cross-hairs of plugs. They measure 49 mm and weigh about 21 g. The original size was considered too impractical. Other proven reductions are 43 mm (manufactured by Godet, Berlin). The author of the project is Herbert Knotel from Berlin. There was no duty of return. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen before 1945, vol. IV, 2001.

Silver-plated bronze cross. Straight cruciform arms on the front side are silver burgundy and enameled. There is a circular ring between the cruciform shoulders at a distance from each other. On the front side of the patch is a round medallion. The back side is smooth and silver-plated with a perpendicular pin with a mating hook.

Front side:

• The cruciform arms are bordered in silver and enameled in white.
• On a white background is a silver red enameled cross of flame.
• Round central shield with silver and black enameled border.
• In on field on white enameled background
• black enameled and silver swastika placed on top
• On a silver 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 silver plated with perpendicular pin and reciprocal hook.