Fire Brigade Decoration

This decoration is the same as that described in Fire Brigade Decoration - First Class, except that this cross is smaller and not vaulted.  The arms of the cross measure 43 mm across and 12 mm wide.  The button, in this case, measures 12 mm, the circle is 3 mm wide and has a diameter of 32 mm.  The thickness across the arms of the cross is 2 mm and across the centre 3.5 mm due to the applied button.  The overall colour of the metal parts of the cross are gold, with the background to the letters being matt patinated and the surface of the letters bright, polished gold.

The reverse of the cross is plain with a light matted gold appearance. From the upper arm is positioned a ball or barrel ribbon ring suspension loop, through which passes the ribbon ring.  The cross was designed by Herbert Knötel of Berlin and was worn on the medal ribbon bar.  Only one grade of the decoration could be worn at any one time.

The ribbon comprises of a 30 mm band with 2 mm purple-red edge stripes, 7 mm orange-red stripe and central 12 mm white stripe.

The new cross was in a series of long service awards that was instituted on 30 January 1938 by order of the Führer.  It also served to change the Fire Brigade Decoration and the scope of the award to a truly national one.  The pin back version was eliminated.  The cross was to reward those members of regular or part-time fire brigades who had performed acts of exceptional meritorious service and included acts of bravery at fires.  A First Class award was automatically bestowed upon a fireman who lost his life in the line of duty.  It could also be conferred upon private individuals who had rendered conspicuous service to fire brigade organisations, however after the outbreak of the war, non Germans in the service of the fire department were also qualified for the award on the same terms as Germans.  Recommendation for the award came from the Reichsführer-SS Himmler in his capacity as Chief of the German Police, which controlled the fire departments and were approved by the Minister of the Interior.  Bravery at fires caused by air raids could be rewarded either with the War Merit Cross, or The Fire Brigade Decoration.  It is of interest to include a German news item of September 1944 which stated, '147 awards of the First Class Fire Brigade Decoration and many thousands of the Second Class had been made up to that date for bravery caused by terror bombing'.  This goes to illustrate the relative rarity of the First Class in respect to the Second Class. 

The cross was accompanied by a citation in Gothic script that read, 'IM NAMEN, DES, DEUTSCHEN VOLKS, VERLEIHE ICH,' followed by the details of the recipient, 'IN ANERKENNUNG SEINER VERDIENSTE, UM DAS DEUTSCHE FEUERLÖSCHWESEN, DAS, FEUERWEHR = EHRENZEICHEN, ERSTE STUFE., BERLIN DEN' the date of the award, 'DER FÜHRER UND REICHSKANZLER,' with a facsimile of Hitler's signature beneath and the large embossed state seal in the lower left-hand corner. 

The cross was contained in a presentation box that is hinged with a press-stud catch.  The exterior is of pebbled black simulated leather and bears no lid designation.  It has an indented straight tooled line that runs round it, this is filled with gold leave. It measures 110 mm by 66 mm and 22 mm deep.  The upper interior is white satin void of any designation and the lower portion is black velvet recessed to accommodate the cross.

 

Institutedon. 30 January 1938

This decoration is the same as that described in Fire Brigade Decoration - First Class, except that this cross is smaller and not vaulted.  The arms of the cross measure 43 mm across and are 12 mm wide.  The button in this case, measure 12 mm.  The circle measures 3 mm wide and has a diameter of 32 mm.  The thickness across the arms of the cross is 2 mm and across the centre, 3.5 mm due to the applied button.  The overall colour of the metal parts are silver with the background to the letters being matt patinated and the surfaces of the letters, bright polished silver.  The silver of the arms of the cross are lighter and matt.

The reverse of the cross is plain, with a light matted silver appearance.  From the upper arm is positioned a ball or barrel ribbon ring suspension loop through which passes the ribbon ring.  The cross was designed by Herbert Knötel of Berlin.  It was worn on the medal ribbon bar.  The ribbon comprises of a 30 mm band with 2 mm purple red edge stripe, 7 mm orange-red stripe and a central 12 mm white stripe. 

This cross was to replace all the various Fire Brigade crosses awarded by states or local authorities. The cross was to reward those members of the Volunteer Fire Brigade who had completed 25 years faithful service in the Fire Service with the time being calculated as at 1 May 1936, with the added clause that it could be conferred on non Germans in the service of the fire department, on the same terms as the Germans after the outbreak of war.  Recommendation for award of this cross came from the Reichsführer-SS Himmler in his capacity as Chief of the German Police, which controlled the fire departments and was approved by the Ministry of the Interior. 

The cross was accompanied by a citation that was printed in Gothic script and read,

 'DER FÜHRER UND REICHSKANZLER HAT MIT ERLASZ VOM HEUTIGEN TAGE' followed by the recipients details, 'ALS ANERKENNUNG, FÜR 25 JÄHRIGE TREUE DIENSTE IN DER FEUERWEHR, DAS, FEUERWEHR = EHRENZEICHEN, ZWEITE STUFE, VERLIEHEN., BERLIN DEN' the date of award, 'DER STAATSMINISTER, UND CHEF DER PRÄSIDIALKANZLEI, DES FÜHRERS UND REICHSKANZLERS'.

 

The cross was contained in a presentation box that is hinged with a press-stud catch.  The exterior is of pebbled black simulated leather and bears no lid designation. It measures 72 mm by 60mm and 20 mm deep. It has an indented straight tooled line that runs round it.  The upper interior is white satin void of any designation and the lower portion is black velvet recessed to accommodate the cross.

This award comprised of an oak leaf spray which was added to the ribbon of the 25 Year Cross.  The spray measures 34 mm across the tips and 17 mm high.  The base has a ribbon that curls from a knot at the centre downwards.  From the knot, in a 'V' form are two oak leaves.  From each side is a larger leaf that overlaps two smaller ones.  The area between the ribbons and the leaves is usually solid, however this, in some cases, can be found voided.  This latter version is not as desirable as the former.  The emblem is attached to the ribbon by two flat pins that are put through the ribbon.  The reverse of the emblem is plain and flat.  The overall colour of the emblem is of matt gold.  Above the emblem the Arabic number '40' was positioned.  This comprised of two individual pressed figures that measure 23 mm high in the case of the '4' and 22 mm in the case of the '0'.  The edges were gently sloped upwards and produced a fine edge line.  The resultant field was crossed horizontally by small rounded lines.  The two numerals were gilded.

This grade was introduced by decree of Hitler on 12 August 1944.  Other awards introduced at the same time were, the Police Long Service 25 Year Service Cross with 40 Years Cluster, and Faithful Service Decoration for 40 Years Service with 50 Years Oak Leaf Cluster,

It was to recognise 40 years of loyal service in the fire brigade however, although the device exists there is serious question as to whether or not it was awarded, therefore the existence of the citation and presentation or protective case is also in question.