Silesian probation badge
The Silesian Probation Badge, or also popularly known as the Silesian Eagle , was a free corps award during the Weimar Republic . It represents, stylistically changed, the coat of arms eagle of Silesia .
Foundation, endowment
The Silesian Eagle was on June 16, 1919 from General Command VI. Army Corps for the members of the Border Guard of the VI. Army corps that rushed to arms at the time of the greatest need in the province, as an outward sign of honorable memory and patriotic common sense and for all who in 1918 and 1919 were available as fighters to defend their native soil have provided , donated in two stages:
- II. Level after exemplary service after three months in the same unit
- First stage after six months of exemplary service in the border guard for Silesia in the same unit.
On July 1, 1921, Lieutenant General a. D. Karl Hoefer as leader of the self-protection of Upper Silesia in agreement with the command post VI. in Oberglogau the oak leaves for the Silesian eagle. The swords were also introduced in the same year .
Appearance, variants, way of carrying
The medal made of iron shows an upright, blackened or browned eagle looking to the right, which is covered on the chest and the wing with a gold-colored flat crescent moon with a cross in the cavity. In its claws the eagle carries a ribbon with the inscription FOR SILESIA . The unofficial enamelled version of the award dates from 1921.
The first stage was worn as a pin badge on the left side of the chest, the second stage on a vertical yellow-white-yellow striped ribbon (the colors of Silesia).
There are a total of two levels in four variants each (with / without oak leaves, with / without swords).
Those on loan had to procure the badge themselves, the price of each level was around 3.50 marks. The enamelled version was more expensive.
Award
In exceptional cases, the second level could also be awarded to civilians who had rendered outstanding services to the defense of Silesia.
It was originally planned to end the award with the expiry of the General Command VI on June 28, 1919, due to the Treaty of Versailles . to discontinue on September 30, 1919. The now command post VI. in Breslau , however, the awards continued.
On January 13, 1920 was commanding General of VI. Army Corps Lieutenant General Friedrich von Friedeburg (1866–1933) set as the closing date for the awards on February 1, 1920.
After the referendum lost for Poland in Upper Silesia on March 20, 1921 and the establishment of the Upper Silesia Self-Defense in the spring of 1921, fighting flared up again with the outbreak of the 3rd Polish Uprising on May 3, 1921. So the need arose to re-award the Silesian probation badge. However, the decisive factor for the following awards was no longer the fixed period of service, but the fighting performance. Since a number of members of the troop had already received the award earlier, the eagle with oak leaves was now awarded.
Official recognition, portability
Only on May 15, 1934 was the Silesian Eagle in the form of the original foundation, i.e. without oak leaves and swords, by Section 5 (1) b) in the supplementary law (RGBl. I, No. 52 of May 16, 1934, p . 379) to the law on titles, medals and decorations officially recognized as a state award. In the Federal Republic of Germany , too , the award according to Section 6 (1) No. 1 of the Law on Titles, Orders and Medals of Honor of July 26, 1957 (Federal Law Gazette I, No. 37 of August 5, 1957, pp. 844–847 ) are worn.
literature
- Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann : German Awards. Volume 2: German Empire: 1871–1945. The Order Collection, Berlin 1971.
- Hartmut Gräber: Awarding of the Silesian Probation Badge (Silesian Eagle) II. And I. Levels to non-combatants . In: Orders and Medals. The magazine for friends of phaleristics, publisher: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ordenskunde , issue 94, 16th year, Gäufelden 2014. ISSN 1438-3772.