BACKGROUND: On January 30TH 1938 Hitler instituted a series of Long Service Awards to recognize loyal long service in the police. The award was originally issued in three classes with the first class award for twenty-five years service, the second class award for eighteen years service and the third class award for eight years service. Allegedly another class of the award was introduced in August 1944 to recognize forty years loyal service and consisted of a golden metal cypher with "40" encompassed by an oak-leaf wreath to be affixed to the ribbon of the twenty-five year service award.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: First class, die struck alloy award with a fire gilt finish for twenty-five years service. Award in the form of a Patté style cross with a central vertically oval centerpiece. Obverse centerpiece features an embossed oak-leaf wreath encompassing a national eagle clutching a canted, wreathed swastika on a smooth background field. The eagles wings extended beyond the oak-leaf wreath onto the horizontal arms of the cross. Reverse centerpiece has embossed script, "Für Treue Dienst in der Polizei", (For Loyal Service in the Police), also on a smooth background field. The arms of the cross have a slightly textured background field with a smooth raised outer border. The fire gilt finish is fully retained and still quite bright. Ribbon suspension loop and ring both intact. The award comes complete with its original cornflower blue, ribbed moiré rayon ribbon with a machine embroidered, wreathed police eagle in golden yellow threads to the obverse. Award comes housed in a, 10.5cm x 6cm x 20mm, case with mid-green simulated leather cover. Top lid has an impressed opened top oak-leaf wreath encompassing the numeral, "25". Staggered, magnetic, internal bar hinge still functions nicely. Interior with white satin lining to top (loose) and grey velvet lining to bottom with raised retaining arm with cut-out recess to hold the award in place.

GRADE ****1/4                                 PRICE $495.00