Honor shield of the Luftgau XI

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The Ehrenschild des Luftgaues XI was a non-bearable award of the German Air Force during the Second World War , which was donated by Colonel Friedrich-Carl Kranz in his capacity as Commanding General and Commander of the Luftgau XI between October 1937 and June 1938. For reasons unknown up to now, this badge was awarded in two categories. On the one hand, the Silver Honor Shield , which was "donated" in mid-1941 by General der Flieger Ludwig Wolff , and on the other hand the Iron Honor Shield , which existed in three versions. Wolff subsequently awarded both types of honor badge, i.e. both the iron and the silver.

Award terms

The award of the badge of honor came into question for the following actions or services:

  • Good performance in shooting training
  • Rescuing a child from drowning
  • Technical improvements to weapons
  • Services in animal husbandry, vegetable and potato cultivation for the airfield commandos
  • Securing the operational readiness of the flying formations

Appearance

Iron honor plate

First form

The plaque made of cast bronze is 112 mm high and 87 mm wide. In the upper part it shows the sovereign badge of the Luftwaffe as well as an adjoining four-line inscription: FOR OUTSTANDING / PERFORMANCE / THE COMMANDER / IM LUFTGAU XI . The name of the entrusted to whom the badge was handed out was engraved on the right of the emblem and his rank on the left of the emblem.

Second form

The second form of the Iron Honor Shield, 142 mm high and 120 mm wide, exists in four different types, which on the whole differ only slightly from one another. What they all have in common is that they show the Luftwaffe's sovereign badge within a raised edge in the upper third, under which there is a small brass plate, which is attached to the badge by means of two rivets. The rank and name of the recipient are engraved on it. This is followed by the five-line inscription: FOR OUTSTANDING / PERFORMANCE / THE COMMANDING GENERAL / AND COMMANDER / IN LUFTGAU XI .

Third form

The third form of the badge is 142 mm high and 120 mm wide and shows in the upper part of the badge the national badge of the Luftwaffe followed by two blank lines, which are filled by engraving with the rank and the name of the person on loan. This is followed by the four-line inscription: FOR OUTSTANDING / PERFORMANCE / THE COMMANDING GENERAL / AND COMMANDER IN LUFTGAU XI . Again below that is the facsimile Wolff and his rank GENERAL DER FLIEGER .

Silver honor plate

A type

The polished or silver-plated plaque made of white metal is 152 mm high, 110 mm wide and shows in its upper third the sovereign badge of the Luftwaffe in raised embossing as well as the subsequently engraved name of the entrusted and military rank. This is followed by the four-line inscription: FOR OUTSTANDING / PERFORMANCE / THE COMMANDING GENERAL / AND COMMANDER IN LUFTGAU XI, under which the signature of the founder Wolff in facsimile and his military rank General der Flieger can be read.

B type

The polished or silver-plated plaque, also made of white metal, is 172 mm high and 132 mm wide, is almost identical to the A-type and also shows the same inscription, which however - due to the word separation - is now five lines. ( FOR EXCELLENT / PERFORMANCE / THE COMMANDING GENERAL / AND COMMANDER / IN LUFTGAU XI )

Silver honor plate 1942

This honor shield is also made of the same material as the other two types of shield. It is 172 mm high and 132 mm wide. In terms of appearance, it hardly differs from its predecessors and still shows the Luftwaffe emblem in its upper third, followed by the name and rank of the recipient, which is framed in black. Only the following inscription has been changed and in this case reads: FOR OUTSTANDING / PERFORMANCE / IN THE WAR 1942 / THE COMMANDING GENERAL / AND COMMANDER / IN LUFTGAU XI . Among the recipients of the Silver Honor Plate were Lieutenant General Theodor Spiess and SS Brigadefuhrer Hans Kehrl .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Klaus D. Patzwall : The non-wearable medals and plaques of the air force. 1935–1945 (= Studies on the History of Awards. Vol. 5). Patzwall, Norderstedt 2008, ISBN 978-3-931533-04-5 , pp. 88-116.