Honour Roll Clasp of the Army
Encyclopedia
The Honour Roll Clasp of the Army or Ehrenblatt des Heeres (German) was a Decoration of Nazi Germany
during World War II
. The total number awarded was 4,556.
in 1941. Until 30 January 1944, it was only a paper award. After this date, Adolf Hitler
introduced the metallic version of the award for the decoration.
There were no specific qualifications to earn this award; its bestowing was at the discretion of the German High Command. It was, however, awarded very sparingly, and so did retain a high level of prestige and honor.
The awarding of the Honour Roll Clasp of the Army took place in three Steps:
The Waffen SS were not nominally part of the German Army, but were nevertheless eligible on the same conditions as the Army.
The width of the wreath was 5 mm at the widest point and tapered to the apex where two oak leaves meet tip-to-tip.
The height of the badge from base to tip was 26 mm.
The swastika was superimposed upon the separately-made wreath and was soldered onto the wreath assembly.
The reverse side had four pins for attachment to allow securing to a strip of Iron Cross Second Class ribbon. This ribbon was then looped through the second button hole on the tunic of the recipient.
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The total number awarded was 4,556.
History
The Honour Roll Clasp of the Army was instituted after the German invasion of the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in 1941. Until 30 January 1944, it was only a paper award. After this date, Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
introduced the metallic version of the award for the decoration.
Qualification
There were a number of possible qualifications for the Honour Roll Clasp of the Army:- The award could only be bestowed after a recipient had been awarded the Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
in both the First and Second Class.
- An act of bravery above and beyond the call of duty, that did not justify an award of the Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
and had not resulted in an awarding of German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold could result in the bestowing of the Honour Roll Clasp of the Army.
- A special appreciation record from the supreme commander of the HeerHeerHeer is German for "army". Generally, its use as "army" is not restricted to any particular country, so "das britische Heer" would mean "the British army".However, more specifically it can refer to:*An army of Germany:...
could result in this award.
- Inclusion in the Honour Roll of the German Army (the WehrmachtberichtWehrmachtberichtThe Wehrmachtbericht was a daily radio report on the Großdeutscher Rundfunk of Nazi Germany, published by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht regarding the military situation on all fronts of World War II....
, somewhat analogous to being Mentioned in DispatchesMentioned in DispatchesA soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
) could result in this award.
There were no specific qualifications to earn this award; its bestowing was at the discretion of the German High Command. It was, however, awarded very sparingly, and so did retain a high level of prestige and honor.
The awarding of the Honour Roll Clasp of the Army took place in three Steps:
- 1. Naming of recipient in the Honour Roll of the German Army (Nennung im Ehrenblatt des deutschen Heeres - this is the date in the list),
- 2. Awarding of the Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (Verleihung der Ehrenblattspange des Heeres),
- 3. Receiving by recipient of the Honour Roll Clasp of the Army (Überreichung der Ehrenblattspange des Heeres).
The Waffen SS were not nominally part of the German Army, but were nevertheless eligible on the same conditions as the Army.
Description
The decoration contained a wreath measuring 24.5 mm across, formed of six bunches of Oak Leaves on each side.The width of the wreath was 5 mm at the widest point and tapered to the apex where two oak leaves meet tip-to-tip.
The height of the badge from base to tip was 26 mm.
The swastika was superimposed upon the separately-made wreath and was soldered onto the wreath assembly.
The reverse side had four pins for attachment to allow securing to a strip of Iron Cross Second Class ribbon. This ribbon was then looped through the second button hole on the tunic of the recipient.