Herr General Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 Orders, Medals and Decorations of His Royal Highness Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, Prince of Lippe-Biesterfeld.Below is the large list of decorations from HRH Prince Bernhard. Prince Bernhard is the son of Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld, (younger brother of the reigning Prince of Lippe) and Baroness Armgard of Sierstorpff-Cramm. I would like to now if he received Imperial decorations in his time as member of the ruling family of the principality Lippe and after the first world war ( when the family lost Lippe to Poland ) as a well known person in the large aristocratic society of Germany?Some of his decorationsDutchCommander in the Military Order of WilliamGrand cross in the Order of the Dutch LionGrand master of the Order of the Golden ArkKnight in the Order of the Golden Lion of NassauGrand cross in the House order of OranjeKnight in the House order of Lippe knights of Justice from the Johanitter Order in the NetherlandsFlying CrossWar Commemorative Cross with the bars war on land 1940-1945 and Normandy 1944Resistance CrossOfficers' Cross for 35 years of service Marriage medal 1937 Inauguration medal 1948 Silver Wedding Medal 1962Marriage medal 1966 Inauguration medal 1980 Cross of Merit from the Dutch Red Cross Gold medal of the Royal Netherlands Air Force SocietyMedal of Special Merit of the Royal Netherlands Air Force SocietyCross of the Royal Netherlands Officers' Reserve AssociationSilver CarnationForeignCommander in the Legion of Merit from the United States of AmericaGrand cross in the Order of Merit of ArgentinaGrand cross in the Order of the Liberator San Martin of ArgentinaGrand cross in the Leopoldsorde with the swords of BelgiumGrand cross in the National Order of the Southern Cross of BrazilGrand cross in the Order of Aeronautical Merit of Brazil Grand cross in the Order of Naval Merit of Brazil Chain of the Order of Merit from ChileGrand cross in the Order of the Clouds of China Grand cross in the Order of Boyaca from Colombia Grand cross in the Order of Saint Carlo from Colombia Grand cross in the Order of Merit of Germany Knight in the Order of the Elephant from Denmark Grand cross in the Order of Merit Juan Pablo Duarte of the Dominican RepublicGrand cross in the Order of Merit of Ecuador Collar of the Order of the Queen of Sheba of EthiopiaGrand cross in the Order of Solomon's Seal of Ethiopia Grand cross in the Order of the White Rose of Finland Grand cross in the Order of the Legion of Honour of FranceCommander in the Order of the Academic Palms of FranceGrand cross in the Order of the Redeemer of GreeceGrand cross in the Order of Victoria from the United KingdomGrand cross in the Most Honorable Order of the Bath ( civil ) from the United KingdomHonorary Knight Grand Cross of the Military Division of the Order of the British EmpireHonorary Bailiff Grand cross of the Knight Order of het hospital of St. John from Jerusalem of the United KingdomGrand cross in the Order of Mahaputera from IndonesiaGrand cross in the Order of Pahlavi from Iran Grand cross in the Order of Merit of the Republic from ItalyGrand cross in the National Order of the Ivory CoastGrand cross in the Order of the Star of JoegoslaviaGrand cross in the Order of the Star of Karageorge of southern Slavi?Grand cross in the bravery order of Cameroon Grand sash in the Order of the Star of Africa from Liberia Grand sash in the Order of the Pioneers from Liberia Grand cross in the Order of the Oak Crown of LuxembourgHonorary Bailiff Grand cross in the Sovereign en Military Order of Malta Grand Chain of the Order of the Aztec Eagle of Mexico Grand cross in the Order of Ojaswi Rajanya of Nepal Grand cross with silver star in the Order of Ruben Dario of Nicaragua Grand cross in the Order of Saint Olaf of Norway Grand cross from the Decoration of Honor for Merit from Austria Chain of the National Order of Merit of Paraquay Grand cross in the Order of the Son of Peru Grand cross in the Order of the 23th august of RoemeniaGrand cross in the National Order of the Lion of Senegal Grand cross in the Order of Karel III of SpainGrand sash in the Order of the Yellow Star of Suriname Knight in the House order of Chakry of Thailand Grand cross in the Order of Independence from TunesiaChain of the Order of the Liberator of Venezuela Knight in the Seraphimorder of Sweden Croix the Guerre 1940 avec Palm from BelgiumBronze Star of the United States of AmericaCroix the Guerre 1939-1945 avec Palm from FranceWar Cross 1939 of CzechoslovakiaWar Cross 1939-1945, 1942 from GreeceCroix the Guerre 1940-1945 avec Palm from LuxembourgDefense Medal from the United KingdomFrance and Germany Star the United Kingdom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Danner Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 (edited) I would like to now if he received Imperial decorations in his time as member of the ruling family of the principality Lippe and after the first world war ( when the family lost Lippe to Poland ) as a well known person in the large aristocratic society of Germany?I would doubt it. He was too young (born 1911) and not a direct member of the Lippe house to have been given any Lippe awards as a child before the war). His father-in-law, however, did. Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands, husband of Queen Wilhelmina, was born Heinrich Wladimir Albrecht Ernst, Herzog zu Mecklenburg-Schwerin. He was ? la suite to the 1. Gro?herzoglich Mecklenburgisches F?silier-Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm Nr. 90 and to the Garde-J?ger-Bataillon. He held the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle with Chain, the Johanniter Order (Military Order of St. John) and the long service cross. Edited September 14, 2006 by Dave Danner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DutchBoy Posted September 14, 2006 Share Posted September 14, 2006 I saw some of the late Prince's awards displayed at the Het Loo palace in Apeldoorn. Very impressive! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webr55 Posted September 15, 2006 Share Posted September 15, 2006 Of course, no awards from his time with the Reiter-SS... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr General Posted January 4, 2007 Author Share Posted January 4, 2007 I would doubt it. He was too young (born 1911) and not a direct member of the Lippe house to have been given any Lippe awards as a child before the war). His father-in-law, however, did. Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands, husband of Queen Wilhelmina, was born Heinrich Wladimir Albrecht Ernst, Herzog zu Mecklenburg-Schwerin. He was ? la suite to the 1. Gro?herzoglich Mecklenburgisches F?silier-Regiment Kaiser Wilhelm Nr. 90 and to the Garde-J?ger-Bataillon. He held the Prussian Order of the Black Eagle with Chain, the Johanniter Order (Military Order of St. John) and the long service cross.Thanks for your answer ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted January 7, 2007 Share Posted January 7, 2007 Orders, Medals and Decorations of His Royal Highness Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, Prince of Lippe-Biesterfeld.Below is the large list of decorations from HRH Prince Bernhard. Prince Bernhard is the son of Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld, (younger brother of the reigning Prince of Lippe) and Baroness Armgard of Sierstorpff-Cramm. I would like to now if he received Imperial decorations in his time as member of the ruling family of the principality Lippe and after the first world war ( when the family lost Lippe to Poland ) as a well known person in the large aristocratic society of Germany?Some of his decorationsDutchCommander in the Military Order of WilliamGrand cross in the Order of the Dutch LionGrand master of the Order of the Golden ArkKnight in the Order of the Golden Lion of NassauGrand cross in the House order of OranjeKnight in the House order of Lippe knights of Justice from the Johanitter Order in the NetherlandsFlying CrossWar Commemorative Cross with the bars war on land 1940-1945 and Normandy 1944Resistance CrossOfficers' Cross for 35 years of service Marriage medal 1937 Inauguration medal 1948 Silver Wedding Medal 1962Marriage medal 1966 Inauguration medal 1980 Cross of Merit from the Dutch Red Cross Gold medal of the Royal Netherlands Air Force SocietyMedal of Special Merit of the Royal Netherlands Air Force SocietyCross of the Royal Netherlands Officers' Reserve AssociationSilver CarnationForeignCommander in the Legion of Merit from the United States of AmericaGrand cross in the Order of Merit of ArgentinaGrand cross in the Order of the Liberator San Martin of ArgentinaGrand cross in the Leopoldsorde with the swords of BelgiumGrand cross in the National Order of the Southern Cross of BrazilGrand cross in the Order of Aeronautical Merit of Brazil Grand cross in the Order of Naval Merit of Brazil Chain of the Order of Merit from ChileGrand cross in the Order of the Clouds of China Grand cross in the Order of Boyaca from Colombia Grand cross in the Order of Saint Carlo from Colombia Grand cross in the Order of Merit of Germany Knight in the Order of the Elephant from Denmark Grand cross in the Order of Merit Juan Pablo Duarte of the Dominican RepublicGrand cross in the Order of Merit of Ecuador Collar of the Order of the Queen of Sheba of EthiopiaGrand cross in the Order of Solomon's Seal of Ethiopia Grand cross in the Order of the White Rose of Finland Grand cross in the Order of the Legion of Honour of FranceCommander in the Order of the Academic Palms of FranceGrand cross in the Order of the Redeemer of GreeceGrand cross in the Order of Victoria from the United KingdomGrand cross in the Most Honorable Order of the Bath ( civil ) from the United KingdomHonorary Knight Grand Cross of the Military Division of the Order of the British EmpireHonorary Bailiff Grand cross of the Knight Order of het hospital of St. John from Jerusalem of the United KingdomGrand cross in the Order of Mahaputera from IndonesiaGrand cross in the Order of Pahlavi from Iran Grand cross in the Order of Merit of the Republic from ItalyGrand cross in the National Order of the Ivory CoastGrand cross in the Order of the Star of JoegoslaviaGrand cross in the Order of the Star of Karageorge of southern Slavi?Grand cross in the bravery order of Cameroon Grand sash in the Order of the Star of Africa from Liberia Grand sash in the Order of the Pioneers from Liberia Grand cross in the Order of the Oak Crown of LuxembourgHonorary Bailiff Grand cross in the Sovereign en Military Order of Malta Grand Chain of the Order of the Aztec Eagle of Mexico Grand cross in the Order of Ojaswi Rajanya of Nepal Grand cross with silver star in the Order of Ruben Dario of Nicaragua Grand cross in the Order of Saint Olaf of Norway Grand cross from the Decoration of Honor for Merit from Austria Chain of the National Order of Merit of Paraquay Grand cross in the Order of the Son of Peru Grand cross in the Order of the 23th august of RoemeniaGrand cross in the National Order of the Lion of Senegal Grand cross in the Order of Karel III of SpainGrand sash in the Order of the Yellow Star of Suriname Knight in the House order of Chakry of Thailand Grand cross in the Order of Independence from TunesiaChain of the Order of the Liberator of Venezuela Knight in the Seraphimorder of Sweden Croix the Guerre 1940 avec Palm from BelgiumBronze Star of the United States of AmericaCroix the Guerre 1939-1945 avec Palm from FranceWar Cross 1939 of CzechoslovakiaWar Cross 1939-1945, 1942 from GreeceCroix the Guerre 1940-1945 avec Palm from LuxembourgDefense Medal from the United KingdomFrance and Germany Star the United KingdomNice set of awards... any one of us would have gotten them as well if we would be married to the Dutch royal family. THe question is, what did Bernhard do to EARN these awards? Besides:- driving around France in his jeep with body guards?- collecting money under the table from Lockheed- etc.As you can guess, I am - although Dutch - not a monarchist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DutchBoy Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 Bob,While it is true that he, like most royals and most politicians around the world, was awarded many orders by virtue of his birth and position, he did actually earn several of them. To quote from the Wikipedia article about him:"During the German Invasion, the Prince, carrying a machine gun, organised the palace guards into a combat group and shot at German planes....In 1940 flight Lieutenant Murray Payne instructed the prince to fly a Spitfire. The prince made 1000 flight-hours in a spitfire with the British 322 squadron wrecking two planes during landings. As "Wing Commander Gibbs ( RAF )" Prince Bernhard flew over occupied Europe in a B-24 bomber attacking V-1 launch pads, he was in a B-25 Mitchell bomber bombing Pisa, over the Atlantic ocean bombing a submarine and in an L-5 reconnaissance plane over occupied Europe. Prince Bernhard was awarded the Dutch Flying Cross for his "ability and perseverance" (Dutch: "bekwaamheid en volharding")......From 1942 to 1944 Bernhard flew as a pilot with the Royal Air Force. He also helped organise the Dutch resistance movement and acted as personal secretary for Queen Wilhelmina."I think it took some guts to fly sorties into enemy territory that once used to be his homeland, at the risk of crash landing and being captured...One can only imagine what his fate would have been compared to any other pilot captured by the Germans. They considered him a traitor. He could have stayed quietly behind in England and ridden out the war but he chose to fight instead (and against the wishes of his mother-in-law Wilhelmina).So don't judge him as a royal waistrel so quickly... Nice set of awards... any one of us would have gotten them as well if we would be married to the Dutch royal family. THe question is, what did Bernhard do to EARN these awards? Besides:- driving around France in his jeep with body guards?- collecting money under the table from Lockheed- etc.As you can guess, I am - although Dutch - not a monarchist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacky Posted January 8, 2007 Share Posted January 8, 2007 Also, as a royalty he was kinda personalising the dutch state, many states wanted to thank each other for their efforts,It is not possible to thank each member of a foreign army, thus decorating the prince for "general merit" is meant to decorate the dutch state.Kinda weird story from me, but I hope the meaning is coming straight He was decorated for the merit of all dutchieskind regards,Jacky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Brewer Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 Hi, does anyone know when the French Legion of Honour was awarded, and does anyone have a photo of his medal group? Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 They considered him a traitor. He could have stayed quietly behind in England and ridden out the war but he chose to fight instead (and against the wishes of his mother-in-law Wilhelmina).Then you are also aware that his pre-Dutch background in Germany is not exactly spotless? I agree, he could have stayed behind but chose to flee the Netherlands instead. A convenience many others did not have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr General Posted July 30, 2007 Author Share Posted July 30, 2007 Then you are also aware that his pre-Dutch background in Germany is not exactly spotless? I agree, he could have stayed behind but chose to flee the Netherlands instead. A convenience many others did not have.He was part of the reiter SS for a year. Thats all. During the war Hitler proclaimed he was a traitor and enemy of Germany. He wanted to fight in the Netherlands but was not allowed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjcp Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 I liked this little segment from the Wikipedia article...."The SS Cavalry Corps (German: Reiter-SS) comprised several Reiterstandarten and Reiterabschnitte that were equestrian riding groups founded to attract the German upper class and nobility into the SS. In the 1930s, the SS Cavalry Corps was considered as a starting point for a military branch of the SS, but this idea was phased out with the rise of the SS-Verf?gungstruppe, which would later become known as the Waffen-SS. By 1941, the SS-Cavalry Corps was little more than a social club with most of the serious cavalry officers having transferred to combat units in the Waffen-SS."JC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted July 30, 2007 Share Posted July 30, 2007 He was part of the reiter SS for a year. Thats all.NSDAP? SA? SS? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurentius Posted December 25, 2019 Share Posted December 25, 2019 On 14/09/2006 at 19:12, Herr General said: Knight in the House order of Lippe Knight-commander, as shown in these pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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