Hamburg Rescue Medal

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Graphic representation of the Hamburg Rescue Medal

The Hamburg Rescue Medal was designed by Rudolf Bosselt and awarded for the first time in 1903. As a result of the seizure of power by the National Socialists and the imminent ban on donating state-owned medals and decorations, Hamburg also lost the power to award its rescue medal . From June 22, 1933 to May 3, 1945, only the rescue medal (1933) was awarded for rescue acts throughout the empire . In contrast to the otherwise usual May 8, 1945, May 3rd is named as the key date because the liberation of the city of Hamburg is commemorated on this day every year. With the decision of the Hamburg Senate of October 2, 1951, the award of the Hamburg Rescue Medal was resumed. Since then, the rescue medal has been awarded again for recognition for rescuing a human life in the state of Hamburg at risk of death. Hamburg differentiates the following levels of life saving:

  1. the Hamburg rescue medal,
  2. the certificate of recognition and that
  3. Letter of Commendation.

Rescue medal

Award requirements

The rescue medal is only awarded if the rescuer was at considerable personal risk during the rescue act. The rescue must also have taken place in the Hamburg state, whereby the rescuer's German citizenship is not a requirement for the award. The medal is also awarded for rescue acts on the high seas if the rescue was carried out from a ship and the home port of the ship in question is Hamburg. Incidentally, the Hamburg Rescue Medal can only be awarded once to one and the same person.

Exclusion from award, exceptions, suspension

The Hamburg Rescue Medal is not awarded to persons who, for professional or official reasons, have been entrusted with protecting the lives of others for these reasons and who have only acted in the performance of their service during the underlying rescue act. Under these circumstances, the medal can only be awarded if the rescuer has significantly exceeded his duty or rescue duties during the rescue act . Young rescuers who have not yet reached the age of 18 will not be awarded the rescue medal, but will be suspended until they reach the age of 18. Instead, you will receive a public commendation and, if applicable, a gift.

In any case, the award of the rescue medal will be publicly announced in the Official Gazette.

Retroactive awards

Previous rescue acts that have been carried out between June 22, 1933 (the award of the Rescue Medal in 1933) and May 3, 1945 and which have resulted in state recognition, can be retrospectively recognized. In these cases, the rescue medal can be applied for and exchanged. Other rescue acts are only recognized if not more than a year has passed since the rescue act.

Shape, texture and way of carrying

The rescue medal is made of silver and has a diameter of 37 mm. On its front it shows the large Hamburg state coat of arms embossed with the above inscription: FREIE UND HANSESTADT HAMBURG Below the state coat of arms is the inscription: For rescue from danger . The reverse of the medal contains a pictorial representation, the central focus of which is a naked, kneeling man fighting with the tentacles of an octopus. This symbolism is also embossed. The medal is worn on the left side of the chest on a red ribbon with two white stripes in the middle.

Award procedure

The rescue medal is awarded by the Senate with the appropriate certificate of ownership. The medal becomes the property of the borrower. After his death it remains as a souvenir for the bereaved. After the award, a so-called directory of names will be created in the State Archives of the Hanseatic City of Hamburg and kept for an unlimited period.

Certificate of Appreciation

The certificate of recognition is awarded in these cases if the underlying rescue act was unsuccessful or the rescuer was in less serious danger . In both of these cases, the rescuer receives a certificate of appreciation signed by the President of the Senate. If the prerequisites for a certificate of recognition are not sufficient, a letter of commendation takes its place.

Letter of Commendation

If the prerequisites for recognition of the rescue act are not met, but the rescuer's behavior still justifies state recognition, the rescuer's act is honored with a letter of commendation. Otherwise, the same award procedures apply here as for the certificate of recognition. In addition to the rescue medal, the certificate of recognition and the letter of appreciation, the rescuer can also be honored with a gift.

Documented award winners

  • 1935: Ernst [Richard Heinrich] Blunck, detective
  • 1954: Arto von der Meirschen, board member of the DLRG Altona

Web links

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Franklin Kopitzsch , Daniel Tilgner (ed.): Hamburg Lexikon. 4th, updated and expanded special edition. Ellert & Richter, Hamburg 2010, ISBN 978-3-8319-0373-3 , p. 301.
  2. ^ Announcement about the re-award of the Hamburg Rescue Medal from October 2, 1951, point 1
  3. ^ Announcement about the re-award of the Hamburg Rescue Medal from October 2, 1951, points 3, 4, and 5
  4. ↑ Hamburg State Archives , accessed on January 29, 2020
  5. ↑ Hamburg State Archives , accessed on January 29, 2020