The NSDAP Service Award in Silver represents a significant example of National Socialist decorative practice. This award was instituted on January 29, 1934 by Adolf Hitler to honor long-term membership and “loyalty” to the National Socialist German Workers' Party.
The award existed in three grades: Bronze (for 10 years of membership), Silver (for 15 years), and Gold (for 25 years). The silver variant described here was awarded to party members who had belonged to the NSDAP for at least 15 years. Since the party was officially founded in 1920, the first silver awards could theoretically be conferred from 1935 onwards.
This specimen originates from the workshop of Rudolf Souval in Vienna, identified by the RZM number M1/154. The Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) was the central procurement and control office for uniforms, equipment, and insignia of the NSDAP. The Souval firm was among the most prestigious manufacturers of orders and decorations in the German-speaking world, producing high-quality awards during both the monarchy and the Third Reich.
The design of the award followed a clearly defined schema: A Greek cross with slightly widened arms formed the basic shape. At the center was a swastika within a wreath. The silver-plated version was enameled on both sides, with the enamel in typical party colors. The heavy version, as in this specimen, was characterized by solid, high-quality workmanship, in contrast to later wartime economy versions.
The 20 cm long ribbon in red-white-black colors corresponded to the official specifications of the NSDAP. This color combination referenced the Reich colors and was consistently used for party decorations. The award was worn on the left breast of the uniform.
The blue presentation case was standardized and bore the manufacturer's RZM marking on the underside. These cases not only served to protect the award but also emphasized the official character of the conferral. The unworn condition of this specimen suggests that it was either never officially awarded or the recipient never wore it.
After the annexation of Austria in 1938 (Anschluss), Austrian party members were also integrated into the award system. Viennese firms such as Souval received RZM licenses and henceforth produced for the entire “Greater German Reich.” The high quality of Souval products made them sought after by collectors even then.
The conferral practice followed strict guidelines. Applicants had to prove their membership without gaps, with interruptions or expulsions being taken into account. Approval was granted by the responsible Gauleiter and was centrally documented.
After 1945, all NS awards fell under the prohibition of the Allied Control Authority. Public display of such insignia is prohibited in Germany and Austria under respective laws (in Germany § 86a StGB). They may only be collected and presented for scientific, historical, or similar purposes, whereby their historical classification and contextualization is essential.
From a military-historical perspective, this award documents the sophisticated system of NS rule, which rewarded loyalty through a complex network of decorations, rank insignia, and symbols, and visualized social hierarchies within the party structure. Such objects today serve as sources for researching National Socialist mechanisms of power and the everyday history of the Third Reich.
