Order of the Red Eagle


The Order of the Red Eagle was an order of chivalry of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was awarded to both military personnel and civilians, to recognize valor in combat, excellence in military leadership, long and faithful service to the kingdom, or other achievements. As with most German and other European orders, the Order of the Red Eagle could be awarded only to commissioned officers or civilians of approximately equivalent status. However, there was a medal of the order, which could be awarded to non-commissioned officers and enlisted men, lower ranking civil servants and other civilians.

History

The predecessor to the Order of the Red Eagle was founded on 17 November 1705, by the Margrave George William, [Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth|Georg Wilhelm] of Brandenburg-Bayreuth as the Ordre de la Sincérité. This soon fell into disuse but was revived in 1712 in Brandenburg-Bayreuth and again in 1734 in Brandenburg-Ansbach, where it first received the name of "Order of the Brandenburg Red Eagle". The statutes were changed in 1777 and the order named therein as the "Order of the Red Eagle". The order was conferred in one class, limited to fifty knights.
The Kingdom of Prussia absorbed both Brandenburg-Bayreuth and Brandenburg-Ansbach in January 1792, and on 12 June 1792, King Frederick William II again revived the order as a Prussian royal order. After the Order of the Black Eagle, the Order of the Red Eagle was the second highest order of the kingdom in order of precedence. Every Knight of the Black Eagle now automatically became a member of the contemporary highest class of the Order of the Red Eagle.
File:Sir Thomas Lawrence - Frederick William III, King of Prussia - RCIN 404944 - Royal Collection.jpg|thumb|Frederick William III of Prussia">Frederick William III of Prussia">Frederick William III of Prussia by Thomas Lawrence, 1818
In 1810, King Frederick William III revised the statutes of the order, expanding it into three classes. In 1830, a breast star was authorized for the Second Class and the First Class General Honor Decoration became the Fourth Class of the order. The statutes were further revised in 1861, and a Grand Cross was established as the highest class of the order. By change to the statutes of the Order of the Black Eagle, every member of that order was automatically invested with the new Grand Cross of the Order of the Red Eagle, as well as with the Order of the Prussian Crown. By 1918, an affiliated soldier's medal had been made available to commoners and enlisted men.
Following the Kaiser's abdication at the close of the First World War, a new German constitution was signed into law on 11 August 1919, effectively putting a legal end to the monarchy. All orders and decorations formally conferred by the monarchy ceased to exist, but recipients of the Order of the Red Eagle continued to wear it with their other decorations during the eras of the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich, and the restored republic.

Classes

By the time of World War I, the order had evolved into four classes, two of them divided in two divisions each, and an affiliated medal:
  • 1st Class
  • * Grand Cross – enameled Maltese cross badge worn on a collar at ceremonial occasions or, at other formal occasions, on a sash on the right shoulder; plus a gilt, eight-pointed breast star worn on the left chest; typically awarded to male members of the royal family, to members of the Order of the Black Eagle, to noblemen, and to foreign royalty
  • * 1st Class – oversized, enameled cross pattée badge worn on a sash on the right shoulder, plus a silver, eight-pointed breast star on the left chest; available to general officers, high nobility, and heads of foreign state
  • 2nd Class – enameled cross pattée badge worn on a neck ribbon, plus a silver, four-pointed breast star on the left chest; available to general officers and nobility
  • * 2nd Class with star
  • * 2nd Class
  • 3rd Class – enameled cross pattée badge worn on a ribbon on the left chest; available to field grade officers and minor nobility
  • 4th Class – non-enameled cross pattée badge worn on a ribbon on the left chest; available to company grade officers
  • Medal – round gilt medal worn on a ribbon on the left chest; available to enlisted men
Within these seven grades, however, were a bewildering array of variations. Among these were:
  • All classes but the Medal of the Red Eagle Order could be awarded with swords for distinction in wartime. The swords passed through the arms of the cross behind the center medallion.
  • All classes above the 4th Class could be awarded with "Swords on Ring", indicating that the recipient of that class without swords had earlier received a lower class of the order with swords. A pair of crossed swords were worn above the cross on the suspension ring or above the medallion on the upper arm of the breast star.
  • All classes could be awarded with or without crown as an added distinction.
  • The Grand Cross, 1st and 2nd Class could be awarded with oak leaves, indicating prior receipt of the next lower class of the order, and/or with diamonds, as a special distinction.
  • Royal family members were awarded the Grand Cross "with crown." The Maltese cross badge was suspended from a miniature of the Prussian crown, which covered the usual suspension ring.
  • The Grand Cross was awarded at least once with crossed marshals' batons, as was awarded to Paul von Hindenburg. The crossed batons were worn above the Maltese cross badge of the Grand Cross, on its suspension ring.
  • The 3rd Class could be awarded with bow, indicating prior receipt of the 4th Class.
  • Knights of Saint John who received the Order of the Red Eagle and who had cared for sick and wounded soldiers in the Second Schleswig War and the Austro-Prussian War received the order with a miniature of the Maltese cross.
  • For 50 years of service, a Red Eagle recipient received the "Jubilee Number", a round medallion with the number "50" on it, affixed to the suspension ring or to the oak leaves or the ring of the bow, if applicable.
There were also a set of special versions, the Stars 1st through 4th Class, for non-Christians.

Insignia

The badge of the order for the Grand Cross was a gold Maltese cross enameled in white, with red enameled eagles between the arms of the cross; the gold central disc bore the Royal monogram, surrounded by a blue enameled ring bearing the motto of the Order, Sincere et Constanter.
The badge for the 1st to 3rd classes was a gold cross pattée, enameled in white; that for the 4th class was similar but with smooth, plain silver arms. After 1879 the silver arms of the 4th class cross were pebbled in texture and appearance. The central disc bore the red eagle on a white enamel background on the obverse, with the royal cipher of King Friedrich Wilhelm surmounted by the Prussian crown on the reverse. The enlisted man's medal was of a relatively simple, round design, topped with the Prussian crown, with a depiction of the regular badge in the center of the medal on the obverse, with the royal cipher of the reigning monarch on the reverse.
The breast star of the order was a golden eight-pointed star, a silver eight-pointed star, or a silver four-pointed star with a white enameled cross pattée, all with straight rays. The central disc bore the red eagle on a white enamel background, surrounded by a ring bearing the motto of the Order, Sincere et Constanter.
After September 16, 1848, awards of all classes bestowed for military merit had two golden swords crossed through the central medallion.
The traditional ribbon of the order was white with two orange stripes at the edges, but combat awards were frequently conferred with a black and white ribbon similar to that of the Iron Cross. Numerous variations of the ribbon existed, depending on the nature of the specific award.

Sovereigns (1705–1918)

  • George William, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, Sovereign of the Ordre de la Sincerité, from November 17, 1705; and from 1712 to 12/18/1726.
  • Karl Wilhelm Friedrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, revived the Order as its Sovereign, 1734 – August 3, 1757, renamed the order as the Order of the Red Eagle
  • Karl Alexander, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach and Brandenburg-Bayreuth, Sovereign from August 3, 1757 to January 16, 1791, when the two territories were annexed by Prussia
  • Wilhelm II of Prussia|Friedrich Wilhelm II], King of Prussia, revived the Order as its first Sovereign as a Prussian order, June 12, 1792 – 11/16/1797
  • Friedrich Wilhelm III, King of Prussia, Sovereign from 11/16/1797 – 6/7/1840; revised the statutes in 1810 to add 2nd and 3rd classes; added 2nd class breast star and a 4th class, 1830
  • Friedrich Wilhelm IV, King of Prussia, Sovereign from 6/7/1840 to 1/2/1861
  • Wilhelm I, King of Prussia and German Emperor, Sovereign from 1/2/1861 to 3/9/1888; revised the statutes to add the Grand Cross, 1861
  • Friedrich III, King of Prussia and German Emperor, Sovereign from January to June 1888
  • Wilhelm II, King of Prussia & German Emperor, invested 1/27/1869; Sovereign from June 15, 1888 to November 28, 1918.

Recipients

;Grand Crosses
;1st Class
;2nd Class
;3rd Class
;Other or Unknown Classes
What follows are some additional details on a fair cross section of individuals who are known to have received the Order in any of its several classes, listed in order of precedence. The Order of the Red Eagle frequently was conferred upon foreign nationals, both royal and non-royal, to honor their individual positions or work and to further diplomatic relations with their nations, in much the same way that the Order of the Bath still is conferred by the British monarchy.

Grand Cross (1861–1918)

German / Prussian
Foreign

Knights 1st Class (1705–1918)

German
  • Wilhelm Frhr von Humboldt , German language scholar and statesman
  • Karl August, Prince of Hardenburg, Chancellor of State, 1804–1806; 1807; and 1810–1822
  • Ernst von Pfuel - Prussian general and Prime Minister of Prussia, awarded the 1st Class with Oak Leaves and Diamonds. Previously awarded the 2nd Class with Oak Leaves and Star ; 3rd Class
  • Ludwig von Massow, awarded the 1st Class with Oak Leaves
  • Louis III, Grand Duke of Hesse, awarded the 1st Class with Swords
  • Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, awarded the Order, 1st Class, with Oak Leaves, on the occasion of Kaiser Wilhelm II's birthday, January 27, 1900
  • Dr. Studt, Minister of Public Instruction, awarded the Order, 1st Class, on the occasion of Kaiser Wilhelm II's birthday, January 27, 1900
  • Bolko Count von Hochberg, awarded the Order, 1st Class, on the occasion of Kaiser Wilhelm II's birthday, January 27, 1900
  • Generalleutnant á la suite Viktor Adolph Theophil von Podbielski, hussar general, Prussian Minister of Agriculture, Postmaster General, and President of the German Olympic Committee; awarded 1st Class with oak leaves and crossed swords, on the occasion of Kaiser Wilhelm II´s birthday January 27, 1902
  • Theodor von Holleben, German Ambassador to the United States; awarded 1st Class with oak leaves after the visit of Prince Henry of Prussia to the US, March 1902.
  • Baron Hermann Speck von Sternburg, Prussian Consul to Calcutta, German Ambassador to the United States, awarded the 1st Class, Jan 5, 1903
  • Anton von Werner, awarded the Order, 1st Class, 1912; previously awarded the 2nd Class
  • GenObst Felix Graf von Bothmer of Bavaria, conferred with the Order, 1st Class, January 17, 1914
  • Gen-Lt Philipp von Hellingrath of Bavaria, awarded the 1st Class with Swords, Nov 14, 1918; previously awarded the 2nd Class
  • Henry William, Baron de Bülow awarded the Order 1st Class, Envoy Extraordinary & Minister Plenipotentiary to Her Majesty Queen Victoria
  • Eduard von Jachmann, Prussian Vice Admiral, awarded 1st Class with Swords
Foreign

Knights 2nd Class (1810–1918)

German
  • Mayer Carl Frhr von Rothschild, King's Court-Banker for Frankfurt, awarded the 2nd Class, August 14, 1857
  • Dr. Albert Sigismund Jaspis, Generalsuperintendant of Pommern in Stettin, awarded the 2nd Class, with Bow, by Kaiser Wilhelm I, 1/18/1863
  • Anton von Werner, court painter to the Prussian royal family; awarded the Order 2nd Class, Jan 20, 1895, and awarded the breast star of the 2nd Class, Mar 30, 1902
  • Johann Heinrich Frhr von Bernstorff, Ambassador to the United States, conferred with the Order, 2nd Class, on December 24, 1909
  • Gen der INF Otto von Below, awarded the Order, 2nd Class, with oak leaves and with breast star, bef. 1914
  • Gen. der INF Karl Rttr von Fasbender of Bavaria, conferred with the Order, 2nd Class, with Crown, and with breast star
  • Gen der INF Paul Rttr von Kuenßl of Bavaria, awarded the 2nd Class with swords, 12 JUN 1915; previously awarded the 4th Class, pre-World War I
  • Gen-Lt Nikolaus Rttr von Endres of Bavaria, awarded the 2nd Class with swords24 AUG 1917; previously awarded the 3rd Class with swords, pre-World War I
  • Gen-Lt Alfred von Kühne ; awarded the 2nd Class in 1912 when he first retired from the army.
  • Gen der Kav Ludwig Freiherr von Gebsattel of Bavaria, awarded the 2nd Class with breast star; previously awarded the 3rd Class with Crown
  • Gen-Lt Otto von Stetten of Bavaria ; awarded the 2nd Class, prior to World War I
  • Gen-Lt Hermann frhr von Stein ; awarded the 2nd Class with swords & the 2nd Class breast star with swords, 20 JAN 1917; previously awarded the 3rd Class, prior to World War I
  • Gen-Maj Ludwig Rttr von Tutschek of Bavaria ; awarded the 2nd Class with Swords, 3 Feb 1917; previously awarded the 4th Class, prior to World War I
  • Gen-Lt Hermann von Kuhl ; awarded the 2nd Class with Oak Leaves and swords, and the 2nd Class breast star, 15 JAN 1916 & 12 JAN 1918
  • Gen-Lt Wilhelm Gröner of Württemberg, awarded the 2nd Class with Crown & Swords, and with breast star, 15 Jun 1918; previously awarded the 2nd Class w/o breast star, 3rd Class, 4th Class with Crown ; & 4th Class
  • Gen-Lt Constantin Wilhelm Albert Müller, awarded the breast star of the Order, 2nd Class, with Oak leaves and Swords, by Kaiser Wilhelm II, 10/23/1918; Previously awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords
  • Vice ADM Franz von Hipper, German hero of the Battle of the Jutland; awarded the Order, 2nd Class; previously awarded the 3rd Class with Bow and 4th Class with Crown
  • Vizeadmiral and Admiral à la suite Bernhard Otto Curt von Prittwitz und Gaffron ; veteran of the Austro-Prussian War and Franco-Prussian War, closely linked with Großadmiral Prince Heinrich of Prussia, his frequent predecessor in various naval command stations.
  • Baron Guenther Heinrich von Berg Statesman, Doctor of Law, Judge, Legislator. Invested 28 June 1820.
  • Bernard Hebeler Prussian Consul-General awarded the Order 2nd Class, by Frederick William IV of Prussia, 1842
Foreign

Knights 3rd Class (1810–1918)

  • Jan Willem Louis van Oordt, awarded the Knights Cross, 3rd Class, for services to the Imperial Navy, 1850
  • Major Albrecht von Roon – awarded the Knights Cross, 3rd Class for actions and service during the Baden insurrection, 1848
  • Oberst Louis Lust, commander of the Captain-Cadet School, awarded the Knight's Cross, 3rd Class, with Bow, by Kaiser Wilhelm I, 12/19/1878
  • Captain Hans-Wilhelm von Dresky – awarded the Knight's Cross, 3rd Class, with swords and ribbon, for actions while in command of the cruiser SMS Habicht.
  • Hermann von Wissmann, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords, September 3, 1894
  • Oberst Friedrich von Scholl, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords, 1895
  • Oberst Pavel, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords for actions in Cameroon, 1902
  • Hauptmann Franke, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords, for actions in South West Africa, 1904
  • Käptain zur Sea Pohl, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords for actions in East Asia, 1905
  • Oberst Constantin Wilhelm Albert von Müller, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords for actions in Cameroon, 1905
  • John Schroers, Chairman of Education and the Educational Congresses, and later Director of the St. Louis World's Fair, 1904–1906; awarded the 3rd Class, Feb 23, 1905, for work with the St. Louis World's Fair
  • Oberstleutnant von Estorff, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords for actions in South West Africa, 1905
  • Howard J. Rogers, Chief of the Department of Education & Social Economics, involved with St. Louis Exhibition ; awarded the 3rd Class, Jan. 12, 1906, for work with the St. Louis World's Fair
  • Oberst Constantin von Falkenhayn, commander of 5. Badisches Infantry-Regiment Nr 113, awarded the 3rd Class, with Bow, June 1913
  • Georg, Crown Prince of Greece, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords, 1913
  • Gen der Art. Konrad Krafft von Dellmensingen of Bavaria ; Received the Order, 3rd Class, before World War I
  • Gen der Kav Ludwig Freiherr von Gebsattel, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown; later awarded the 2nd Class with breast star
  • Oberst Hans Rttr von Hemmer of Bavaria ; awarded 3rd Class with swords, 15 MAY 1915; previously awarded the 4th Class, pre-World War I
  • R-Adm Franz von Hipper; awarded the 3rd Class with Crown, date unknown
  • Oberst Richard Franz Joseph Haegele, awarded the 3rd Class, with Bow and Swords, 12/14/1916
  • Oberst, awarded the 3rd Class, with Bow and Swords, 12/22/1917
  • Rittmeister Manfred Albrecht Frhr von Richthofen also known as "The Red Baron", awarded the 3rd Class, with Crown & Swords, for earning an unprecedented 70th aerial victory as Germany's top fighter ace of the Great War, April 6, 1918. This was one of only two such awards during the Great War for someone of company grade rank.
  • Oberst Klehmet, awarded the 3rd Class, with Bow and Swords, 5/25/1918
  • Oberstleutnant Maercker, awarded the 3rd Class with Crown and Swords for actions during the Great War, November 16, 1918
  • Mathew Kiely, Chief of Police St. Louis, Missouri, received the Order 3rd Class for his department's commendable performance during the 1902 visit of Prince Henry
  • Lt.Col. E. H. Swayne, Somerset Light Infantry without swords
  • Lt.Col. George Limbrey Sclater-Booth, 2nd Baron Basing, 1st The Royal Dragoons without swords Vizeadmiral Alfred Meyer-Waldeck, date unknown

Knights 4th Class (1830–1918)

  • Maj. E.D.Bally, Somerset Light Infantry
  • Sevki Bey, District Governor of Aclun, awarded the 4th Class
  • Dr. Ernst Freiherr von Bibra 1854 was a German Naturalist and author. Ernst was a botanist, zoologist, metallurgist, chemist, geographer, travel writer, novelist, duellist, art collector and trailblazer in ethnopsychopharmacology.
  • Hauptmann Curt von Brandenstein, 1879–1964, Pour le Me'rite 26.9.1918, HOH w/ Swords, Hessian Bravery medal, Leibregiment Grossherzogin Nr.117
  • Captain von Dresky – awarded the 4th Class, with swords, for actions at Miang while in command of the cruiser SMS Habicht
  • Hauptmann Constantin von Falkenhayn, awarded the 4th Class, for service in the Füsilier-Regiment Fürst Karl-Anton von Hohenzollern Nr 40, January 1900
  • Rittmeister Richard Franz Joseph Haegele, awarded the 4th Class, 10/21/1901, for service as commander of the East Asian Field Bakery in the Prussian Army; Later awarded the 4th Class with Swords, for actions in South West Africa
  • Heinrich Johannes Halke, awarded the 4th Class, 1/18/1886
  • Rittmeister Arthur Hay, prior-enlisted cavalry officer, May 12, 1901
  • General Wilhelm Heye, awarded the 4th Class with swords
  • Leutnant Paul von Hindenburg – awarded the 4th Class, with swords, after actions against the Austrians at Königrätz, July 3, 1866
  • Charles John Hexamer, co-founded and first president of the National German-American Alliance, awarded in 1904
  • Tarleton Hoffman Bean, first Curator of Fishes at the Smithsonian Institution; Director of the Forestry and Fisheries exhibit at the Paris Exhibition, 1900; Chief of the Departments of Fish, Game and Forestry, St. Louis World's Fair, 1902–05; awarded the 4th Class, Jan 12, 1906, for work with the St. Louis World's Fair
  • First Lieutenant Carl Hermann Arthur Finster, Author and Diplomat, 1908
  • Joseph Austin Holmes, geologist, and first director of the Bureau of Mines, credited with advances in mine safety, and for the slogan "Safety First"; Chief of Mines and Metallurgy at the St. Louis World's Fair, 1904–1906; awarded the 4th Class, Jan 12, 1906, for work with the St. Louis World's Fair
  • F.D. Hirschberg, Chairman of Reception and Entertainment, St Louis World's Fair, 1904–1906; awarded the 4th Class, Jan 12, 1906, for work with the St. Louis World's Fair
  • Prof. Otto Jaekel, geologist and paleontologist, awarded April 3, 1913
  • Obst-Lt Friedrich Frhr. Kreß von Kressenstein of Bavaria ; awarded the 4th Class prior to World War I
  • John H. McGibbons, Secretary of Awards for Division of Exhibitions, St. Louis World's Fair, 1904–1906; awarded the 4th Class, Jan 12, 1906, for work with the St. Louis World's Fair
  • Lt.Col. Hon. George Henry Morris, Irish Guards
  • Dr. Ludwig Karl Georg Pfeiffer, botanist and conchologist, 1875
  • Premierleutnant Ernst von Prittwitz und Gaffron, awarded the 4th Class in 1864
  • Carl Friedrich Rohte, awarded the 4th Class, 8/22/1907, for service to the Crown
  • Hermann Aleksander Eduard von Salza, Russian Navy, 1910
  • Ernst Friederich Ludwig Scheyder, Amtsrat, presented with Red Eagle August 10, 1911, for dedicated service to the crown
  • Frederick Winslow Taylor, mechanical engineer; President of the American Society of mechanical Engineers, who is credited for innovations in management principles; awarded the 4th Class, Jan. 12, 1906, for work with St. Louis World's Fair
  • Adolf Werner, awarded the 4th Class, 1904
  • Lt.Col. L.E.C.Worthington-Wilmer, Somerset Light Infantry

Medal for Enlisted Men

  • Musicmeister Jacob Peuppus, 2. Infanterie-Regiments Kronprinz; awarded November 16, 1900
  • Feldwebel August Keller, 2. Infanterie-Regiments Kronprinz; awarded November 16, 1900
  • Sergenten Maximilian Büchert, 2. Infanterie-Regiments Kronprinz; awarded November 16, 1900
  • Wachtmeister Otto Grieszing, 1. Schwerin Reiter-Regiment Prinz Karl von Bayern; awarded November 16, 1900
  • Matthias Kürmeher, 4. Infanterie-Regiments, König Wilhelm von Württemberg; awarded June 15, 1903
  • Karl Lemnitz, 2. Fuß-Artillerie-Regiments, Königliche von Preußen; awarded June 15, 1903
  • Fortunatus Klun, Hof-Saal-Kammerdiener, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Adolf Zimmerman, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Thomas Drozda, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Franz Fahnier, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Josef Kramlinger, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Josef Blaha, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903
  • Georg Schögl, Hof-Saal-Türhüter, Saaldienst, Obersthofmeister Staab, Austria Hungary; awarded 1903