SS Long Service Award

The SS Long Service Award was one of service and loyalty award for all members of the Schutzstaffel (SS), which was donated by decree on January 30, 1938 by Adolf Hitler.

The full text of the input regulation was:

" On the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the day of the national collection I am making in recognition of faithful service in the SS troops available, the SS Death 's Head units and SS - Junker schools the SS Long Service Award. The details regarding the design, layout and form of the award determines the subsequent statutes from me. Berlin, 30 January 1938 The Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler The Reich Minister of the Interior Frick. "

Statute content

The same day, adopted the Statute of the SS Long Service Award will then determine the further details of this award.

The purpose of the Long Service Award

The SS Long Service Award was in recognition of faithful and impeccable service of members of the SS in the SS troops available, the SS Death 's Head units and the SS - Junker schools that were awarded in four stages that were there:

All levels was common that the service was credited under crediting period of service in the movement.

Nature and supporting manner

4th and 3rd stage

The SS Long Service Award of the 4th stage was a round black tinted medal, representing on its front the SS runes in embossed marking, which are surrounded by an oak wreath. On her back was the inscription: For faithful service in the SS and center the number 4 to read. The third stage had the same shape, but was bronzed and showed a horizontally standing swastika with fitted oak wreath and sigrunen. At its rear, instead of the four the number 8 to read with homonymous transcription.

2nd and 1st stage

The level 2 SS Long Service Award was a silvered swastika centered in the midst of the sigrunen the SS surrounded by an oak wreath on a round central part showed. The first step, however, was, however gilded the same appearance.

Carrying method

SS Long Service Award was driven like all service awards in the period 1933-1945, on a cornflower blue ribbon on the left chest side or the Order buckle, the 2nd and 1st stage ribbon the woven runes in their respective color (silver or gold ) pointed out. In awarding a higher service award which was lower store, but remained the property of the Beliehenen.

Award procedure

The award of the SS Long Service Award Hitler reserved the right to themselves. The proposals received for the award had to be sent to the Reich Minister of the Interior Wilhelm Frick, who then forwarded these proposals to the presidential office, the Order Registry of Reichsführer- SS and Chief of the German Police. This then took a Hitler's decision. Here, the Reichsführer- SS could also suggest police officers for the SS Long Service Award. About the first ceremony of an SS Long Service Award was awarded to the Beleihende one of Hitler signing certificate, in other ceremonies only a certificate issued by the Chief of the Presidential certificate. Both certificate and award passed into the ownership of the Beliehenen with delivery.

Implementing

The ruling also on 30 January 1933 implementing certain that the proposals by the Reichsführer- SS and the Chief of the German Police had to be sent in duplicate to the Reich Ministry of the Interior. For this purpose a abgedrucktes in Appendix pattern was to be used. The proposals should be made on a quarterly basis, for each 1 March, 1 June, September 1st and December 1st. To be counted against the service were also periods completed in the Armed Forces, National Police Reserve exercises as well as the period of service in other recognized voluntary associations. A criminal conviction of to Beleihenden included a presentation of the service award does not categorically if the offense committed is not " very serious" and had not been " discharge " a dishonorable attitude or that offense had been set back a long time and the condemned had since been managed perfectly.

Others

With the implementing rule end the legal bases. Until 1945, no further changes have been made. Exact figures are awarding no longer detectable, since it has been a mass award. The highest award numbers, however, were achieved in the fourth and third stage. The II and stage I was born in rare cases of the so-called old fighters ( cf. honor angle of the old fighters ). The SS Long Service Award could also be worn equally with a long service award of the Wehrmacht. According to the law on titles, medals and decorations of 26 July 1957, the wearing of the SS Long Service Award of the Federal Republic of Germany is not permitted in any form.

Gallery

SS Long Service Award 4 years (front)

SS Long Service Award 4 years ( back)

SS Long Service Award 8 years old ( front)

SS Long Service Award 8 years old ( back)