The Golden Badge of Honour of the NSDAP (Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP) was among the highest decorations of the National Socialist party organization and was awarded for long-standing party membership and special merit. The present examples represent both official versions of this prestigious award, which played a significant role in the history of the Third Reich.
The Golden Badge of Honour was instituted on September 1, 1933, by Adolf Hitler personally. The badge was originally exclusively intended for party members who had joined the NSDAP before December 31, 1931, and who distinguished themselves through special loyalty and service. This temporal limitation was designed to ensure that only “old fighters” of the movement, who had belonged to the party before its seizure of power, would receive this honour.
The large badge with a diameter of 30 mm was worn on the uniform and featured a characteristic horizontal pin attachment on the reverse. Production was carried out by renowned manufacturers, with Deschler & Sohn of Munich being among the most important and highest-quality producers of party badges. The company, located in Munich N 9, manufactured numerous official awards and badges for the NSDAP and state organizations. The marking “Ges. gesch.” (Gesetzlich geschützt - legally protected) on the reverse indicates the official and legally protected status of this award.
Particularly significant is the award number 72111 engraved on the large badge. This numbering was an essential element for identification and registration of bearers. Each awarded Golden Badge of Honour was provided with an individual number and documented in the files of the Reich Leadership of the NSDAP. Numbers were assigned chronologically, with lower numbers generally indicating earlier awards, which additionally emphasized the bearer's status within the party hierarchy.
In addition to the large version for the uniform, there existed a small version measuring 24 mm in diameter, which was worn in daily life or on civilian clothing. This miniature version was designed for everyday use and allowed bearers to visibly display their award even outside official occasions. The fact that both versions were awarded together underscores the significance of this honour within the NS system.
The design of the Golden Badge of Honour followed the typical symbolism of the NSDAP: a round badge with the characteristic swastika at the center, surrounded by a wreath and the party designation. The golden version stood out distinctly from other party badges and signaled the high rank of the bearer within the organization.
The awarding practice was modified several times over the years. While initially strict criteria applied, these were later relaxed to grant this award to other deserving party members as well. Nevertheless, the Golden Badge of Honour remained one of the most coveted awards within the NSDAP hierarchy throughout the existence of the Third Reich.
The craftsmanship quality of badges by Deschler & Sohn was legendary. The company used high-quality materials and manufacturing techniques that ensured long durability and representative appearance. The horizontal pin attachment was a characteristic construction that provided both stability and wearing comfort.
The preserved condition of both examples – only lightly worn – indicates that these badges were treated with great care. The subsequent soldering of the pin on the smaller example is a typical feature of badges that were actually in use and required repairs.
Today, such objects represent important contemporary historical documents that provide insight into the awards system and hierarchical structures of the NS regime. They serve scientific research and historical documentation of one of the darkest periods in German history. The numbering often enables attribution to specific historical persons and events, which significantly increases their documentary value.
