circa 1918. Three-dimensional bronze representation of two fighting eagles, as also depicted on the honor goblet. The 2-part bronze is mounted on a black octagonal wooden base, with dedication plaque on the front reading "Dem Sieger im Luftkampf 26. Juli 1918 Flg. Leutnant Becker" (To the Victor in Aerial Combat July 26, 1918 Aviation Lieutenant Becker).
Overall height approximately 24.7 cm. Only minor age traces with beautiful patina, Condition 2. Extremely rare.
This piece is illustrated in the reference book by Thomas Wittmann "Exploring the Dress Daggers of the German Navy" on page 452.

The honor prize for naval aviators was established by daily order of January 3, 1917. By war's end, German naval aviators had shot down approximately 270 aircraft, as well as 2 airships, 1 destroyer, 3 submarines, 4 fast attack craft and additional vessels. However, the actual number of honor prizes awarded was certainly well under 100 pieces due to lack of financial resources.

Hermann Becker, born August 8, 1893, entered the Imperial Navy on April 1, 1912. He completed his basic training aboard the armored cruiser SMS "Victoria Louise" and was subsequently assigned to the Naval Academy Mürwik, where he was promoted to Midshipman on April 12, 1913. At the outbreak of World War I, Hermann Becker became Officer of the Watch aboard the battleship SMS "Kaiser Wilhelm II" on August 5, 1914. From February 1915 he completed training as an aircraft pilot at the Naval Air Station Norderney. Promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade on March 22, 1915, after completing his training he served as an aircraft pilot at the Naval Air Stations Norderney, Borkum and List. From December 1916 he was a torpedo and combat pilot at the Naval Air Station Zeebrügge. He was released from British captivity after the war's end. After his return to Germany he joined a volunteer corps. Promoted to Senior Lieutenant on November 17, 1919, Hermann Becker was discharged from military service on September 9, 1920.
Between January 1, 1925 and December 31, 1933 he served as teacher and director of the German Commercial Aviation School in Warnemünde. On January 1, 1934 he entered the Luftwaffe and became commander of the Flight Training School Warnemünde. On August 1, 1934 he became commander of the Air District Flight Park Sea in Kiel-Holtenau and was promoted to Major on November 1, 1934. Simultaneously with his promotion he was appointed commander of the Fliegergruppe Kiel and Air Base Commander Kiel. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on December 1, 1935, Becker became commander of the Flight Training School Sea in Püttnitz on March 1, 1936 and simultaneously Naval Air Base Commander Püttnitz. On March 1, 1938 followed promotion to Colonel and one month later appointment as Commander of the Air Service Units Sea. From December 18, 1939 Hermann Becker served as Inspector of Air Service Units in the Reich Aviation Ministry. On November 1, 1940 he was promoted to Major General and on November 1, 1942 to Lieutenant General. On October 1, 1943 he was transferred to the Führer Reserve. On August 7, 1944 he was arrested and brought before a military court. On December 1, 1944 he was sentenced to death for undermining military morale and incitement to perjury in two cases. Simultaneously his military honor and civil rights were revoked for life. On February 6, 1945 he was executed by firing squad at the Wehrmacht Prison Torgau.

Honor prizes for aircraft pilots of the Imperial Navy are extremely rare; in over 30 years this is only the 5th piece we have been able to offer.
Price upon request.

365665

Imperial German Navy World War I: Honor Prize for Naval Aviator

The Ehrenpreis der Marineflieger (Honor Prize for Naval Aviators), also known as the Ehrenpreis für Vernichtung eines feindlichen Flugzeugs (Honor Prize for the Destruction of an Enemy Aircraft), represents one of the rarest military awards of the First World War. Instituted by Imperial Order (Tagesbefehl) on January 3, 1917 by the Kaiserliche Marine (Imperial German Navy), this trophy embodied recognition of exceptional combat achievements by German naval aviators in what was still an emerging theater of warfare.

The Kaiserliche Marine maintained its own independent air arm during the First World War, separate from the Army's Fliegertruppe. The Marine-Fliegerabteilung (Naval Aviation Department) conducted reconnaissance, patrol, and combat operations over the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and along the Flanders coast. With a budget of 8.5 million marks by 1914, these forces expanded considerably throughout the war. Seaplane stations (Seefliegerstationen) at locations such as Zeebrügge, Norderney, Borkum, List, and others formed the operational backbone of these maritime air forces.

The Ehrenpreis differed fundamentally from the Army's Ehrenbecher für den Sieger im Luftkampf (Honor Goblet for the Victor in Air Combat). While Army aviators received a silver goblet, the Navy created a non-portable bronze trophy. The physical form consisted of a two-piece bronze sculpture depicting two eagles engaged in aerial combat, mounted on an octagonal black wooden base. An engraved dedication plaque on the front identified the recipient and specific achievement. The total height measured approximately 24.7 centimeters. The eagle motif matched the design also used on the honor goblet awarded to Army aviators.

The award criteria were clearly defined: the Ehrenpreis was awarded to naval aviators (pilots and observers) who either shot down an enemy aircraft, damaged an enemy aircraft sufficiently that it was captured, or sank or damaged an enemy warship to the point it was abandoned or captured. The destruction of merchant vessels could also merit the award. The decoration was typically given for the first aerial combat victory, though criteria may have evolved during the war.

By war's end, German naval aviators achieved considerable success: approximately 270 enemy aircraft were shot down, plus two airships, one destroyer, three submarines, four fast boats, and other vessels. Despite these achievements, the actual number of Ehrenpreis trophies awarded remained significantly lower than the number of military successes. Various sources diverge considerably regarding exact production numbers, likely reflecting the discrepancy between approved awards and physically manufactured trophies due to wartime resource shortages. The choice of bronze rather than silver presumably also reflected wartime metal shortages.

This particular example was awarded to Flugzeugleutnant Hermann Becker for his aerial combat victory on July 26, 1918. Becker, born August 8, 1893, joined the Kaiserliche Marine on April 1, 1912. After basic training aboard the large cruiser SMS Victoria Louise and promotion to Fähnrich zur See on April 12, 1913 at the Marineschule Mürwik, he served at the outbreak of war as officer of the watch aboard the battleship SMS Kaiser Wilhelm II. From February 1915, he trained as an aircraft pilot at Seefliegerstation Norderney. After promotion to Leutnant zur See on March 22, 1915, he served as an aircraft pilot at the stations Norderney, Borkum, and List. From December 1916, he was stationed as a torpedo and fighter pilot at Seefliegerstation Zeebrügge.

Following the war, Becker continued his military and aviation career. Released from British captivity, he was promoted to Oberleutnant on November 17, 1919 and discharged from military service on September 9, 1920. Between 1925 and 1933, he taught as instructor and director at the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule in Warnemünde. On January 1, 1934, he joined the newly established Luftwaffe and progressed through various commands, rising to Generalleutnant on November 1, 1942. His career ended tragically: arrested on August 7, 1944, he was convicted on December 1, 1944 of Wehrkraftzersetzung (undermining military morale) and incitement to perjury, and was executed by firing squad at Wehrmachtsgefängnis Torgau on February 6, 1945.

Production of the Ehrenpreis ceased with the end of the war in November 1918. The Kaiserliche Marine was dissolved following Germany's defeat, the High Seas Fleet scuttled itself at Scapa Flow on June 21, 1919, and naval aviation was disbanded under Versailles Treaty restrictions. These Ehrenpreis trophies became historical artifacts of extraordinary rarity. The concept was later adapted by the Luftwaffe in the Second World War as the Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe, established on February 27, 1940, though in goblet form. Surviving examples are extremely rare, and this specific example is documented in Thomas Wittmann's reference work “Exploring the Dress Daggers of the German Navy” on page 452.