NSDAP Organisation Viktor Lutze

[James Clark]

I wonder if anyone can help me out with a list of Viktor Lutze's awards. He seems to have had quite a few Imperial awards.

Thanks

James

[Deruelle]

Hi,

That's all I can find

LUTZE, Viktor

(1890-1943)

SA-Stabschef/M.d.R.:

Born: 28. Dec. 1890 in Bevergern.

Killed: 3. May 1943, in an automobile accident, Germany.

NSDAP-Nr.: (Joined, 1922)

Promotions:

SA-Stabschef: Jul. 1934; SA-OGruf.: 1933;

Assignments:

SA-Stabschef: Jul. 1934-3. May 1943.

Polizeipr?sident, Hannover: 1933-

Notes:

Decorations & Awards:

1914 EK I/II; Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918; Ehrenkreuz f?r Frontk?mpfer; Goldenes Parteiabzeichen; Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Gold;

Regards

Christophe

[webr55]

Some more:

Lippe War Honor Cross for Heroic Deeds

Lippe pinback Honor Cross with Swords (a post-WW1 'dynastic' award)

Lippe War Merit Cross

Schaumburg-Lippe Cross for Loyal Service

Austrian WW1 Commemorative Medal

Sudeten Medal

Olympic Decoration (Medal or Decoration 2nd class)

SA-Treffen Braunschweig 1931 badge

Some of these can be seen on the photo of his ribbon bar below:

Edited November 13, 2017 by webr55

[James Clark]

Thanks for this. I have had a bit of a disaster with my computer but have found out some further information e.g. wound badge in silver (for the loss of an eye in WWI). There are pictures of him wearing another imperial or Weimar pin back award that I'm trying to figure out (gold coloured cross worn below his other pin-on awards) but I can't scan pictures at the moment. I hope to get it sorted out soon.

[webr55]

Thanks for this. I have had a bit of a disaster with my computer but have found out some further information e.g. wound badge in silver (for the loss of an eye in WWI). There are pictures of him wearing another imperial or Weimar pin back award that I'm trying to figure out (gold coloured cross worn below his other pin-on awards) but I can't scan pictures at the moment. I hope to get it sorted out soon.

That's the Lippe War Honor Cross for Heroic Deeds.

[webr55]

This one:

Edited November 13, 2017 by webr55

[James Clark]

Yes - thanks, that's the one. I think this picture is from around 1933 if it's the same one I'm thinking of. There is also a colour version where the ribbons are a lot easier to make out. It's interesting to compare these awards with those on the later ribbon bar in the first picture you posted. Very helpful indeed.

[Stan]

Adrian Forman sold a number of Lutz's awards in 1994. They included Reichskultursenat badge in it's case; Rider's badge in Bronze; GPB; Red Cross Neck Cross with oakleaves and WWI Wound Badge in Silver. Apparently they were removed from the houshold of Frau Lutz by a British Army Unit in 1945.

Stan

[Guest WAR LORD]

Stan is quite correct. I have the Red Cross Neck Cross with oakleaves.It is shown in A colection of awards thread.Page 22

Edited March 11, 2007 by WAR LORD

[James Clark]

I'd heard about this. In fact a few odds and ends (collar tabs etc) were sold quite. There was a lot of stuff altogether as his family set up a small museum after Lutze's death, which was looted at the end of the war. Interesting to confirm that it was a Red Cross award rather than the later Volkspflege.

Thanks again,

James

[Andy H]

Hi James

I noted with interest an old Regimentals catalogue from March 1994 listing a cased Reichskultursenates badge which it is claimed was presented to Lutze as part of the first issue of 125 badges in 1936. The entry goes on to suggest that this badge was numbered 15.

This was of particular interest to me as I own the smaller RKS lapel badge which is also numbered 15 .Could this also have been presented to Lutze?

Hope that this adds a little more to your search. Has anyone seen a photo of Lutze wearing either of these awards?

Andy

[lisbon 67]

I own an early (1927) party book to an SA member with Lutze's signature, at this satge I am not in a position to post photos,yet the book is almost mint.

[Andwwils]

I've heard that Lutze's remains were exhumed at one point and what was left of his uniform, decorations and dagger made their way onto the collector's market. Anyone else hear about this?

[Michael D Miller]

Just resurrecting this thread from long ago, as I'm reworking Lutze's biographical sketch for the eventual new and improved Leaders of the Storm Troops, Volume 1.  Here's the most up-to-date list I have of his awards.  Any corrections or additions would be appreciated.

08.05.1943           Goldenes Kreuz des Deutschen Ordens (posthumous award)

00.00.191_           1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse

00.00.191_           1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse

31.03.1941           Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse mit Schwertern

00.00.1940 (?)     Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse mit Schwertern

19.01.1919           Fürstlich Lippisches Kriegsehrenkreuz

30.05.1919           Fürstlich Lippisches Offiziersehrenkreuz mit Schwertern

00.00.1918           Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Silber

ca. 1939               Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938

ca. 1938               Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938

ca. 1934               Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914-1918 mit Schwertern

00.00.1933           Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP

17.05.1939           Goldenes Hitler-Jugend Ehrenzeichen mit Eichenlaub (presented by Reichsjugendführer Baldur von

                                Schirach)

30.01.1942           Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Gold

30.01.1940           Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Silber

30.01.1940 (?)     Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Bronze

00.09.1933           Abzeichen “Reichsparteitag Nürnberg 1933”

00.00.1929           Nurnberger Parteitagsabzeichen 1929

00.00.1931           Abzeichen des SA-Treffens Braunschweig 1931

00.00.1933           Schlageter Gedächtnisabzeichen (Nr. 7)

00.00.193_           Ehrenzeichen des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes I. Klasse

20.10.1940           Kreuz von Danzig I. Klasse

24.08.1936           Deutsches Olympia-Ehrenzeichen I. Klasse

13.12.1939           Deutsche Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen

ca. 1936               Ehrenplakette für die Mitglieder des Reichskultursenats

00.00.193_           Deutsche Reiterabzeichen in Bronze

31.03.1941           Dankschreiben des “Führers” (Letter of Appreciation from the Führer, Adolf Hitler)

28.12.1937           SA-Ehrendolch für Führer der SA-Standarte “Feldherrnhalle”

28.12.1940           Ehrendolch des Deutschen Heeres (Honor Dagger of the German Army; presented on the occasion of his 50th birthday by Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch)

00.00.1934           Ehrendolch der SA (mit Wirkung vom 03.02.1934)

28.12.1938           Luftwaffen-Zivilabzeichen

00.02.1934           Ehrenwinkel für alte Kämpfer

ca. 1932               Tyr-Rune

13.05.1939           Ehrenbürgerrecht der Stadt Schwelm (title revoked by decision of the city council, 25.08.1983)

26.06.1937           Ehrenbürgerrecht der Stadt Göttingen (title revoked by decision of the Hauptausschuss der Stadt Göttingen,

                              25.08.1952)

08.10.1934           Ehrenbürgerbrief der Stadt Bevergern

00.00.1937           Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, Grand Cross (Gran Croce dell’Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro)

01.11.1937           Honor Dagger of the Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale (M.V.S.N., Volunteer Militia for National

                              Security)

00.00.193_           Österreichische Kriegserinnerungsmedaille

16.07.1918           Commander’s Cross of the Royal Bulgarian Military Service Order with War Decoration

30.09.1940           Grand Cross of the Royal Bulgarian Order of Civil Merit

 

Edited September 7, 2020 by Michael D Miller

[Matthew Macleod]

I believe he also received a presentation version of a Walther pistol for a shooting competition.

[Michael D Miller]

You are correct!  Thank you.

https://www.icollector.com/Outstanding-Factory-Cased-Gold-Plated-and-Relief-Engraved-SA-Presentation-Walther-Model-PP-Pistol-At_i12221487

~ Mike

[Michael D Miller]

I'm now able to add the following to his awards list:

 

00.00.1937           Gold-plated Walther PP 7.65 mm pistol with ivory grips bearing his initials- “VL” and serial number 972851. Engraved “Ehrengabe der Waffenfabrik Walther - Zella-Mehlis/Th.” and “S.A. - Pistolenschiessen 1937”. The weapon was manufactured by Carl Walther Waffenfabrik Zella-Mehlis/Thüringen.

[Matthew Macleod]

1936 Reichsparteitag Abzeichen

[JoeW]

For some reason all of Michael's list of awards are in the same color as the background and are not visible unless I highlight them with the cursor. Is the trouble in my setting or what? The pistol give to Lutze was a thank-you gift from the Walther brothers for bringing the SA Shooting matches to Zella-Mehlis. Lutze did not participate in the matches.

[Edward L. Hsiao]

What kind of character did Victor had? Did the SA men idolize him?

 

                                                                          Edward L. Hsiao

[Michael D Miller]

Very belated apologies for the font color issue.
Hopefully it works better this time.
Here is my most up-to-date listing of Lutze's awards.

Best wishes,
~ Mike

 

07.05.1943           Deutscher Orden des Groβdeutschen Reiches, I. Klasse, 1. Stufe mit Lorbeerkranz und Schwertern (4^th recipient; posthumous award)

00.00.191_           1914 Eisernes Kreuz I. Klasse

00.00.191_           1914 Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse

31.03.1941           Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse mit Schwertern

00.00.1940 (?)     Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse mit Schwertern

19.01.1919           Fürstlich Lippisches Kriegsehrenkreuz für heldenmütige Tat

30.05.1919           Fürstlich Lippisches Offiziersehrenkreuz mit Schwertern

00.00.1918           Verwundetenabzeichen, 1918 in Silber

00.00.1939           Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938

00.00.1939           Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13. März 1938

ca. 1934               Ehrenkreuz des Weltkrieges 1914-1918 mit Schwertern

00.00.1933           Goldenes Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP

17.05.1939           Goldenes Hitler-Jugend Ehrenzeichen mit Eichenlaub

                              Presented by Reichsjugendführer Baldur von Schirach.

30.01.1942           Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Gold

30.01.1940           Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Silber

30.01.1940           Dienstauszeichnung der NSDAP in Bronze

00.09.1933           Abzeichen “Reichsparteitag Nürnberg 1933”

00.00.1929           Nurnberger Parteitagsabzeichen 1929

00.00.1931           Abzeichen des SA-Treffens Braunschweig 1931

26.05.1933           Schlageter Gedächtnis-Abzeichen (Nr. 7)

00.00.193_           Groβkreuz des Ehrenzeichens des Deutschen Roten Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub (Halsorden)

10.06.1939           Ehrenzeichen des Roten Kreuzes der Freien Stadt Danzig.

                        Presented by Danzig Senatspräsident Arthur Greiser during the “SA-Gruppenwettkämpfen in

                        Danzig”. (“Senatspräsident Greiser überreicht Stabschef Lutze das Ehrenzeichen vom Roten Kreuz

                        der Freien Stadt Danzig”, in Danziger Neueste Nachrichten, 12.06.1939)

20.10.1940           Kreuz von Danzig I. Klasse

24.08.1936           Deutsches Olympia-Ehrenzeichen I. Klasse

13.12.1939           Deutsche Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen

26.06.1938           Silbernes Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen

00.00. 1936          Ehrenplakette für die Mitglieder des Reichskultursenats

00.00.193_           Deutsche Reiterabzeichen in Bronze

31.03.1941           Dankschreiben des “Führers”

Letter of Appreciation from Adolf Hitler to honor his service as Oberpräsident of Hannover.

28.12.1937           SA-Ehrendolch für Führer der SA-Standarte “Feldherrnhalle” with the following inscription on the blade:

 

Ihrem Stabschef im alten SA-Geist

zum 28.12.1937

Das Führerkorps der Standarte Feldherrnhalle

 

28.12.1940           Ehrendolch des Deutschen Heeres (Honor Dagger of the German Army.

                              Presented on the occasion of his 50^th birthday by Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch.

                              (“Stabschef Lutze 50 Jahre alt”, Hamburger Fremdenblatt, 27.12.1940; “Der Stabschef der SA”, in

                              Frankfurter Zeitung, 28.12.1940; “Stabschef der SA Lutze 50 Jahre”, in Illustrierte Kronen-Zeitung

                          [Wien], 28.12.1940; “Ein Lebenswerk für des Volkes Wehrkraft – Zum 50. Geburtstag des Stabschefs

                          der SA”, in Ostdeutscher Beobachter [Posen], 28.12.1940)

03.02.1934           Ehrendolch der SA

00.00.1937           Gold-plated Walther PP 7.65 mm pistol with ivory grips bearing his initials- “VL” and serial number 972851. Engraved “Ehrengabe der Waffenfabrik Walther - Zella-Mehlis/Th.” and “S.A. - Pistolenschiessen 1937”. The weapon was manufactured by Carl Walther Waffenfabrik Zella-Mehlis/Thüringen.

28.12.1938           Luftwaffen-Zivilabzeichen (“Hermann Göring ehrt seinen Kampfgefährten Lutze”, in Das Kleine Volksblatt [Wien], 10.01.1939; “Göring ehrt Lutze”, in Pommersche Zeitung, 11.01.1939)

00.02.1934           Ehrenwinkel für alte Kämpfer

18.12.1931           Tyr-Rune

13.05.1939           Ehrenbürgerrecht der Stadt Schwelm (Revoked by the Rat der Stadt Schwelm, 25.08.1983)

13.05.1939           Ehrenbürgerrecht der Stadt Schwelm (title revoked by decision of the city council, 25.08.1983)

26.06.1937           Ehrenbürgerrecht der Stadt Göttingen (Title revoked by decision of the Hauptausschuss der Stadt Göttingen, 25.08.1952)

23.06.1936           Ehreburgerbrief der Stadt Gelsenkirchen (Presented 28.06.1936 by Oberbürgermeister Karl Böhmer)

07.10.1934           Ehrenbürgerbrief der Stadt Bevergern (“Chef des Stabes Viktor Lutze in seiner Heimat - Ueberreichung des Ehrenbürgerbriefes “, Münsterischer Anzeiger, 08.10.1934; “Die westfälische Heimat umjubelt den Chef des Stabes, Viktor Lutze”, in Völkischer Beobachter, 09.10.1934)

00.00.193_           Ehrenbürgerrecht der Stadt Hattingen (Ruhr)

00.00.193_           Ehrenbürgerrecht der Stadt Rinteln

00.00.1937           Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus, Grand Cross (Gran Croce dell’Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro)

01.11.1937           Honor Dagger of the Milizia Volontaria per la Sicurezza Nazionale (M.V.S.N., Volunteer Militia for National Security)

01.07.1938           Photograph of Il Duce (Benito Mussolini) inscribed to “Al Camerato Viktor Lutze in Kameradschaft”) (“Abschied Lutzes von Mussolini”, in Völkischer Beobachter [Münchner Ausgabe], 04.07.1938)

00.00.193_           Österreichische Kriegserinnerungsmedaille

16.07.1918           Commander’s Cross of the Royal Bulgarian Military Service Order with War Decoration

30.09.1940           Grand Cross of the Royal Bulgarian Order of Civil Merit

 

[Michael D Miller]

A bit more on him.  His massively expanded biographical sketch will appear in the upcoming second edition, from Fonthill Media, of Leaders of the Storm Troops, Volume 1.

 

Viktor Heinrich Lutze

Stabschef der SA (30.06.1934-02.05.1943)

 

 

*             28.12.1890 in Bevergern/Kreis Tecklenburg/Westfalen.

†             02.05.1943 (at 2230 hours) during an operation at the Städtischen Krankenhaus, Potsdam, as a result of injuries sustained in an auto accident near Michendorf. This occurred at 1430 hours on 01.05.1943 as Lutze, his wife, his 17-year-old daughter Inge, oldest son Viktor Jr., and chauffeur were returning on the Reichsautobahn from Bevergern to Berlin. Viktor Jr. was reportedly driving and fell asleep at the wheel, the car then careening over an embankment, at in excess of 60 mph. Jill Halcomb, referencing a 03.05.1943 press report issued by Dr. Sommer, describes the accident as follows:

 

Suddenly, from the grass median several pedestrians stepped into the path of Lutze's speeding car. The driver slammed on the brakes, and apparently hit some of the pedestrians. The sudden braking caused the car to change direction and roll with great velocity down the highway for more than fifty meters. Lutze was thrown against the windshield of the car. At first Lutze was not thought to be seriously injured, but late in the day he grew increasingly worse; a blood clot had formed in his lungs. He was rushed into surgery, but Lutze died soon after. His daughter, who had been riding in the rear seat of the car, died earlier, from her severe injuries. (Halcomb, The SA: A Historical Perspective, pp. 81-82)

 

In a notice to the press, SA-Brigadeführer Thomas Girgensohn (Amtschef in the Adjutantur des Stabschefs der SA) wrote:

 

On 1 May 1943, at about 14.30 hours., the Stabschef's car on the Reichsautobahn, in the curve forming the junction of the railroad from Hannover with that from Leipzig, hit the median, raised and cemented at this point, which separates the two carriageways. The vehicle was thrown out of the lane and crashed down the high embankment. The Stabschef, who as usual was in the front on the right side of the driver, was pressed against the windshield in such an unfortunate way that, in addition to serious injuries to the right shoulder, he suffered bruises, several broken ribs and a concussion. The injuries, the serious nature of which became apparent immediately during the first examination after his admission to the hospital [in Potsdam], did not immediately threaten the life of the Stabschef. In the course of Sunday, the Stabschef's condition worsened due to increasing obstruction of breathing and circulation... (SA-Personalakte Viktor Lutze)

 

In his diary entry of 05.05.1943, Goebbels wrote:

 

... In fact, the car accident was due to improper speed and senseless driving by Lutze's son. Of course, one cannot say that in public; one would completely destroy the son with that...

               

Despite intensive treatment by the renowned surgeon Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Sauerbruch, Dr. Otto Nordmann (the Lutz

Family’s personal physician), and Dr. Werner Forßmann, clinic director of the städtischen Krankenhaus in Potsdam (a recipient, in 1956, of the Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work with cardiac catheterization), Lutze died at 2030 hours due to a collapsed lung. (“Stabschef Lutze schwer verletzt”, in Bremer Nachrichten, 03.05.1943; “Schwerter

Kraftwagenunfall des Stabschefs Lutze”, in Völkischer Beobachter [Berlin], 03.05.1943) 

NSDAP-Nr.:       84 (Joined 21.02.1922 with a different number; Party banned, 09.11.1923-16.02.1925; Unofficially reenrolled 25.02.1925; Officially reentered the Party, 22.03.1926, and later granted the very low membership number of 84 “in Anerkennung seiner Verdienste” [in recognition of his meritorious service])

 

Promotions:

11.04.1907                          Postgehilfe (Anwärter für die gehobene Postbeamtenlaufbahn)

28.12.1912                          Postassistant

01.10.1912                          Einjährig-Freiwilliger

00.00.191_                          Unteroffizier

[12.04.1916]                       Vizefeldwebel

00.00.191_                          Leutnant d. R.                                     

00.08.1919                          Charakter als Oberleutnant d. R.

00.00.1919                          Postsekretär

00.00.1923                          SA-Mann

00.00.1925-00.00.1925     Stellvertretender Gauleiter der NSDAP

00.07.1925-26.09.1925     Gauleiter der NSDAP                        

27.09.1925                          Gau-SA-Führer

00.06.1926-00.00.1927(?) Stellvertretender Gauleiter der NSDAP

01.03.1928                          SA-Oberführer

02.04.1931                          SA-Gruppenführer (Der Oberste SA-Führer, Führerbefehl Nr. 4, 14.10.1931)

                                             Reinstated at that rank, 01.07.1932, when the government ban on the SA was lifted)

01.01.1933                          SA-Obergruppenführer (Der Oberste SA-Führer, Führerbefehl Nr. 10 [Neujahrs-Befehl], 15.12.1932)

Formally granted this rank by Adolf Hitler, 04.01.1933)

15.02.1933-25.03.1933     Polizeipräsident

25.03.1933-29.05.1933     Stellvertretender Obrerpräsident

29.05.1933-28.03.1941      Oberpräsident

30.06.1934-02.05.1943     Stabschef der SA

20.07.1934-02.05.1943     Reichsleiter der NSDAP

30.01.1938                          DRK-Generalhauptführer

Edited July 26, 2022 by Michael D Miller

[Michael D Miller]

"Obrerpräsident" should read "Oberpräsident", of course.

[Glenn J]

Michael,

 

I can add the Stabschef's promotion to Leutnant d.R. The then Vizefeldwebel d.R. Viktor Lutze was commissioned into Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 15 per "All Highest Cabinet Order" of 19 January 1917.

 

I am a little surprised that he received a brevet promotion to Oberleutnant after a couple of years of commissioned service. I cannot yet confirm that promotion.

 

Regards

Glenn

[Deruelle]

Hi Mike,

 

Do you know if he received the Fürstlich Lippisches Kriegsverdienskreuz ? He should received it before the cross for heroic deed.

 

Christophe