Bundesrepublik BADEN-WÜRTTEMBURG “FEUERWEHR-EHRENZEICHEN IN SILVER UND GOLD”

[Gordon Craig]

BADEN-WÜRTTEMBURG

“FEUERWEHR-EHRENZEICHEN IN SILVER UND GOLD”

FIRE DECORATION IN SILVER AND IN GOLD

INSTITUTED ON 25TH OF JUNE 1956

THE SILVER AWARD IS FOR 25 YEARS SERVICE AND THE GOLD FOR 40 YEARS OF SERVICE.

WRITTEN AROUND THE OBVERSE CIRCULAR SECTION OF BOTH AWARD IS;

FÜR VERDIENSTE IM FEUERSCHUTZ. (FOR MERIT IN FIRE PROTECTION IS A LITERAL TRANSLATION BUT IN ENGLISH IT WOULD PROBABLY READ "FOR 25 YEARS OF LONG SERVICE")THE REVERSE OF THE AWARD IS PLAIN WITH A SLIGHTLY PEBBLED SURFACE.

THE RIBBON IS RED AND WHITE FOR BOTH AWARDS BUT THE SILVER HAS A SILVER STRIPE ON THE EDGES OF THE RIBBON WHILE THE GOLD AWARD HAS A GOLD STRIPE ON THE EDGE OF THE RIBBON. PERIOD PICTURES INDICATE THAT THE SAME RIBBON STYLE IS ISSUED TO BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.

BOTH STAGES OF THE AWARD MEASURE 43MM X 43MM.

THEY COME WITH A RIBBON BAR FOR WEAR ON THE UNIFORM AND SOMETIMES A BUTTON HOLE DEVICE FOR WEAR ON CIVILIAN CLOTHING. THE LARGE RIBBON BAR WAS THE FIRST TYPE ISSUED AND IT IS DEVOID OF ANY DEVICES. LATER ISSUE RIBBON BARS WERE MUCH SMALLER AND FEATURED A DEVICE IN THE SHAPE OF THE CROSS ON THE AWARD.

SINCE 1981 SERVICE TIME IN THE YOUNG FIRE BRIGADE COUNTS AS OF THE 14TH BIRTHDAY. THERE WAS NO YOUNG FIRE BRIGADE WHEN THIS AWARD WAS AUTHORIZED.

FROM 1945 UNTIL 1956 THERE WAS NO MEDAL AWARDED. ONLY AN HONOUR CERTIFICATE. A CERTIFICATE IS ALSO AWARDED WITH THE 1956 MEDAL.

ON THE 26TH OF JULY 2011 THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ADDED ANOTHER LEVEL OF THIS AWARD FOR 50 YEARS OF SERVICE. THIS STAGE IS CALLED “FEUERWEHR-EHRENZEICHISCHES IN GOLD IN BESONDERER AUSFÜHRUNG” FIRE DECORATION OF HONOUR IN GOLD FOR SPECIAL EXECUTION. THE RIBBON ON THIS AWARE HAS AN ADDITIONAL GOLD STRIPE ON THE RED PORTION OF THE RIBBON. THIS LAST STAGE RECOGNIZES SERVICE UP TO THE AGE OF 65.

THE OBVERSE AND THE REVERSE OF THIS AWARD, IN SILVER, FROM MY COLLECTION..

Edited October 10, 2013 by Gordon Craig

[Gordon Craig]

THE CASE FORE THE 25 YEAR AWARD. THE MEDAL IN THIS CASE IS FOR THE STATE OF NORDRHEIN-WESTFALLEN. THE CASES FOR BOTH STATES ARE THE SAME EXCEPT FOR THE WORDING ON THE FRONT.

Edited October 10, 2013 by Gordon Craig

[Gordon Craig]

AN AWARD TABLE AND, THE FORTY YEAR CASE AND THE 50 YEAR AWARD.