Germany – Third Reich: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei NSDAP Long Service Award, 1st Class in Gold for 25 Years Service, of tombak form and with the RZM Suffix Code ‘19’ for M11/19 for Wilhelm Deumer of Ludenscheid. A superb example of this rare award.
Condition: very light superficial contact wear to enamel, Nearly Extremely Fine
The NSDAP Long Service Award (NSDAP-Dienstauszeichnung) was given in three grades of ten years, fifteen years, and twenty-five years of service. On its reverse side, each award had emblazoned the inscription, in German: Treue für Führer und Volk ("Loyalty to Leader and People"). The design of all three classes had a national eagle emblem surrounded by a wreath within a four-pointed cross (Ordenskreuz) with rays which was suspended from a 30mm ribbon. On 2 April 1939, Adolf Hitler ordered its institution for male and female members of the Nazi Party who met certain qualifications. The award was first given out on 30 January 1940.
Despite the fact that the entire Nazi movement lasted for little over 25 years (1919-1945), the awards were made well before the stated years of actual service were completed. This was because the period between 1925 and 1933 was known by the Nazis as the Kampfzeit ("Time of Struggle"). The service time for the award was counted double from February 1925 through January 1933. Service in any Party organization or formation counted. The time of service had to be unbroken, with exceptions for: Compulsory military service, not to exceed two years time; Military service against the Republican Government in the Spanish Civil War (1936 to 1939); and German military service after September 1939.
