Bravery Decoration for Eastern Peoples 2nd Class in Gold

The Medal for Gallantry and Merit for Members of the Eastern Peoples, 2nd Class in Gold represents one of the most unusual chapters in National Socialist decoration practice. Instituted through a decree by Adolf Hitler on 14 July 1942, this decoration was intended to honor members of the so-called Eastern Peoples who served in auxiliary service of the Wehrmacht and distinguished themselves through exemplary fulfillment of their duties.

The present piece, crafted from gilded zinc, displays the characteristic design of an eight-pointed radiant starburst with a central six-spoked rosette rotating counter-clockwise. The obverse bears the radiant starburst with a raised rosette within a circular laurel leaf wreath. In the case of the Tapferkeitsauszeichnung (gallantry decoration), two crossed swords are additionally inserted into the star. The suspension loop is marked with the Präsidialkanzlei code "100" for the manufacturer Wächtler & Lange of Mittweida, while the reverse shows a semi-hollow back. This example exhibits partial corrosion and is preserved with its original ribbon, though with a detached pin device.

The decoration was awarded in two classes: the 1st Class as a pin-back badge and the 2nd Class on ribbon, each in various grades. The 2nd Class existed in three grades – Gold, Silver, and Bronze – while the 1st Class was only awarded in Gold and Silver. Crucial was the distinction between awards with or without swords: With swords it was awarded for bravery in combat action, without swords for merit. The 2nd Class in Gold is worn on a grass green ribbon with two red edge stripes, with the Tapferkeitsauszeichnung featuring additionally two crossed swords applied to the ribbon bar.

The historical context of this decoration reveals the ideological contradictions of the National Socialist system. It became necessary because indigenous volunteers and defected Red Army soldiers increasingly engaged in combat and earned merits. However, according to National Socialist ideology, these merits could not be honored with the same decorations given to German soldiers because the Eastern Peoples were classified as inferior. Eligible were members of units made up of Eastern Peoples such as Turks, Cossacks, and Crimean Tatars, as well as Schutzmannschaft battalions and security units made up of Eurasian peoples.

The design was created by Elmar Lang at Gebrüder Godet & Co., Berlin, based on ideas by Undersecretary Dr. Doehle. The first 500 pieces arrived on 19 August 1942, with 400 provided to the OKH (Army High Command), primarily in 2nd Class Bronze. From 28 May 1943 onwards, members of Schutzmannschafts-Bataillone and units of the Sicherheitspolizei and SD could also be awarded the decoration.

A remarkable peculiarity: From 29 October 1942, German soldiers were also reluctantly permitted to receive this decoration, though only as a "commemorative badge." German holders of the Iron Cross 2nd Class were entitled to the Ostvölker decoration 2nd Class in Silver, while holders of the Iron Cross 1st Class were entitled to the 1st Class in Silver. The 2nd Class could be awarded repeatedly up to three times, while the Gold grades were awarded only once. From May 1943, members of the Eastern Peoples were officially permitted to receive the Iron Cross and War Merit Cross if they already held the comparable class of the Ostvölker decoration.

What makes this decoration unique is that it was the only bravery and merit decoration without a swastika. At the end of the Second World War, wear of all Nazi-era decorations was prohibited, but from 1957 West German regulations permitted wear of many wartime awards in Bundeswehr uniform, provided swastika symbols were removed. Since the Ostvölker decoration contained no swastika, 1957-pattern replacements were manufactured following the de-Nazification regulations. The total number of awards issued across all classes and grades remains unknown.