Decoration for Eastern Peoples 2nd Class in Silver

The Bravery Decoration for Eastern Peoples, 2nd Class in Silver represents a remarkable testament to National Socialist decoration policy during World War II. This decoration belongs to a special category of orders and medals created exclusively for members of the so-called “Eastern Peoples” who fought in German military formations.

On July 14, 1942, Adolf Hitler established this group of decorations through a Führer decree, directed exclusively at volunteers from the occupied Eastern territories. The legal foundation was provided by the regulation concerning the establishment of bravery and merit decorations for members of the Eastern Peoples. These awards were part of a broader propaganda strategy aimed at promoting collaboration by non-Germans in the Wehrmacht and other military formations.

The Bravery Decoration existed in two classes: the 1st Class in Gold and the 2nd Class in Silver described here. Both grades could be awarded for bravery in the face of the enemy, with the 1st Class reserved for extraordinary achievements. The award criteria roughly corresponded to those applicable to German soldiers for the Iron Cross, although these decorations could only be awarded to non-Germans.

The design of the decoration differed significantly from traditional German military orders. The medal typically shows a sword with a swastika on the obverse, surrounded by a laurel wreath. The craftsmanship was usually executed in fine zinc, which was then silver-plated – a material-economical process necessitated by the war economy. Precious metals were scarce and needed for more important war purposes.

The ribbon of the 2nd Class was designed in characteristic colors: light blue with white stripes at the edges. This color combination visually distinguished the decoration from other German military decorations and made the special status of the wearers immediately recognizable. The decoration was worn on the left breast, attached by a pin on the reverse.

Recipients of these decorations came from various ethnic groups of the Soviet Union and other Eastern territories. These included Cossacks, Ukrainians, Balts, Caucasians, and members of various Central Asian peoples. Many of these men served in the so-called Eastern Troops or Eastern Legions, which were increasingly established from 1941 onwards. The motivations of these volunteers varied: anti-communist conviction, nationalist hopes, economic necessity, or coercion.

The historical classification of this decoration is complex and problematic. It exists in the context of National Socialist racial policy, which fundamentally regarded Slavic and other Eastern European peoples as inferior. The creation of such decorations reveals the ideological contradictions of the NS regime: on one hand, these peoples were defamed; on the other hand, their military support was needed given the deteriorating military situation.

The production numbers of these decorations are difficult to determine. Various manufacturers produced these orders during the war, with quality varying considerably. The version described here, made of silver-plated fine zinc, corresponds to typical wartime production from 1942/43 onwards. Collectors and historians today distinguish various manufacturer variants that differ in details such as hallmarking, quality of silver plating, and execution of the sword motif.

After the war's end in 1945, wearing all National Socialist decorations was prohibited in Germany. Many bearers of the Eastern Peoples decorations found themselves in a particularly precarious situation: in the Soviet Union they were regarded as traitors and faced severe punishment. Many were deported to gulags or executed. In the West, they were often sent back to their home countries where similar fates awaited them.

Today, these decorations are important historical documents that illustrate the complex history of World War II in the East. They remind us of the tragic fates of those caught between the fronts and of the moral compromises that war and totalitarian rule can force upon people. For military historical research, they offer important insights into the collaboration policy of the NS regime and the composition of German armed forces in the late phase of the war.