Order of the German Eagle : Second Class neck badge with swords

Order of the German Eagle, Second Class neck badge with swords. Obverse: A 50 mm white enamel Maltese cross with gilded German eagles with folded wings between the arms, carrying the Swastika in their talons. There are crossed swords across the centre. Reverse: Same as obverse but without the swords. The cross is fitted with a loose oval wire ring suspender and a piece of 46 mm red ribbon which has one mm white, black and white stripes on the edges. Red tie tapes, 8 mm wide, are attached to the ribbon ends.

The Order of the German Eagle (Orden vom Deutschen Adler) was instituted on 1 May 1937 by Adolf Hitler. It was awarded with swords to military personnel and without swords to civilians and to deserving 'friendly' foreigners, including diplomats. In December 1943 the Order was restructured from six classes to nine. The neck badge is worn in conjunction with a breast star. This medal is part of a collection of Second World War German orders and decorations acquired by Flight Lieutenant K G Hesketh, RAAF Historical Records Section, who was based in London but who made a number of visits to Germany immediately after the Second World War.