SS Long Service Award, IV Class for 4 Years

SKU: 02.GTR.0304.104.01

Estimated market value:

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Estimated market value:

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Attributes

country

Germany
date of institution

January 30, 1938
remarks

The initial design was changed shortly before the institution of the award. The reason was that the first design was too close to the design of the Police Long Service awards. Some samples of the first design are known to have been produced, however none were awarded.

History

The SS Long Service Award was founded on January 30, 1938, and was conferred upon long serving members of the Schutz Staffel.

The S.S. was founded in 1923, although the term Schutz Staffel (S.S.) was not regularly used until 1925. By the end of 1945, there were nearly a million men within the organization.

The Award was established in 4 grades and was conferred upon men who served for 4, 8, 12, or 25 years. The Award for 25 years was created despite the fact that the S.S. did not exist for that length of time. However, it was still conferrable, as war service counted for double, as did service during the “Kampfzeit” from 1925 to 1933, when the Nazis struggled to gain power.

The Award for 4 years was not conferred upon Officers, but beyond this, rank of a recipient was not considered.

Only one S.S. Long Service Award could be worn at one time, although it could be worn in unison with an Armed Forces Long Service Award.