Eagle: Wehrmacht Army/Navy 40 Years Gold with Wreath

In 1939, just before awards of all Wehrmacht long service awards were suspended "for the duration," the wreath device shown here was authorized to improve 25 years service crosses by recognizing 40 years of military service. The wreath shown here is under an army or navy 25 years service eagle, while the 12 years device may just be seen as the wingtip on the right. TWO devices like this really had to be squeezed onto German 18mm high ribbon bars, thus throwing both off center from any other devices.

Although a VERY few senior generals received 40 years devices-- and there is circumstantial evidence that awards of ONLY the 40 year devices continued for Generals ONLY during the war-- the overwhelming majority of recipients were long serving "glass ceiling" military officials (Beamten) in technical or administrative duty branches. Anyone so eligible in 1939 was certainly approximately 60 years old at least, and were frozen into lower pay grades equivalent to Sergeant-Major, mid level positions equivalent to First Lieutenant, or at what would have been equivalent rank of major or Lieutenant Colonel-- almost never higher. Many, having served in those career paths for their entire lives, had noncombatant WW1 awards.

Be VERY wary of exotic combinations with this device!!!!