- "In this patriotic demonstration, Deputy Fϋhrer Melakon presented the Iron Cross, Second Class, to Daras.
Hero of the Fatherland!" - Ekosian Announcer
Several Nazi awards and decorations
Medals of Nazi Germany were decorations bestowed by the nation state of Nazi Germany on Earth both before and during the Second World War. The most widely known Nazi decoration was the Iron Cross.
Manner of Wear
Standard German form was to display decorations on the front left pocket of a uniform. Both military and paramilitary forces were awarded the same decorations, with such Nazi organizations as the SS eligable for the same awards as the regular military.
Medals and large badges were worn on the lower pocket while smaller ribbons were worn above the pocket flap. This manner of ribbon wear was similar to awards of the American military. Extremely high ranking decorations, such as the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, were worn as "neck orders" suspended from the uniform collar. (ENT: "Storm Front", VOY: "The Killing Game")
Apart from their usage on Earth in the 20th century, Nazi awards would see a resurgence three hundred years later on the planet Ekos. Historian John Gill, in a bizarre social experiment, succeeded in recreating a government based on Nazi Germany including the uniforms, symbols, and awards of the era. One of the more important decorations in Gill's neo-Nazi government was the Iron Cross which, even at the level of an Iron Cross Second Class, was awarded with grand ceremony and prestige (TOS: "Patterns of Force").
- The Iron Cross was the only decoration seen in "Patterns of Force" with most of Gill's Nazis wearing uniforms without medals, ribbons, or badges. This was most likely due to budget restrictions which prohibited the costume department from outfitting all of the uniforms with military awards.
In 2374, the Hirogen created an elaborate holodeck scenerio set in World War II France in an effort to hunt and kill the crew of USS Voyager. The Hirogen were outfitted in SS uniforms of the period, which displayed various period specific Nazi medals. Among these were both grades of the Iron Cross, as well as several lesser decorations. (VOY: "The Killing Game")
Medals and Badges
| Decoration | Badge/Medal/Ribbon | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross | File:KnightsCross.jpg | The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a senior award of the standard Iron Cross and was worn suspended from a recipient's neck. The Knight's Cross was awarded in several grades to include the Knight's Cross with oak leaves and swords. (ENT: "Storm Front") |
| Iron Cross | File:IronCross.jpg | The Iron Cross was a standard decoration of Nazi Germany and also of the planet Ekos. The Iron Cross was issued in two different classes, first and second. (TOS: "Patterns of Force", ENT: "Storm Front") |
| War Merit Cross | File:WarMeritCross.jpg | Awarded for non-combat deeds of a heroic or meritorious nature. When the Hirogen took over the USS Voyager and trapped the crew in a World War II holodeck scenario, one of the German holodeck characters wore this badge on his uniform. (VOY: "The Killing Game") |
| Iron Cross Spange | File:IronCrossSpange.jpg | Worn as an attachment to Iron Crosses of World War I, the Iron Cross Spange denoted an additional award of the same grade of the Iron Cross for service during World War II. (ENT: "Storm Front, Part II") |
| Infantry Assault Badge | File:InfassaultBadge.jpg | The Infantry Assault Badge, which was a close approximate to the American Combat Infantryman Badge, was worn on the front of a recipient's uniform and denoted front line service as an infantryman. When the Hirogen took over the USS Voyager, and placed the crew in a World War II holodeck scenario, several of the Hirogen wore this badge on thier German uniforms. (VOY: "The Killing Game") |
| Anti-Aircraft Badge | File:AntiAABadge.jpg | Worn by personnel who had qualified as members of Anti-Aircraft companies. In an alternate time line, observed by the crew of the NX-1 Enterprise, a German General in charge of the American occupation displayed this badge. (ENT: "Storm Front, Part II") |
| Close Combat Clasp | File:CCNaziBadge.jpg | Awarded for front line service involving close quarters combat with the enemy. Several Hirogen wore this badge while participating in a World War II holodeck scenario onboard USS Voyager |
| Wound Badge | File:WoundBadge.jpg | Nazi Germany issued a Wound Badge for those injured in combat. The Wound Badge in Black was the basic decoration received by wounded service members. (VOY: "The Killing Game") |
| National Sports Badge | File:GermanSportsBadge.jpg | The German Sports Badge was displayed on German military and paramilitary uniforms before and during World War II. In an alternate timeline observed by the crew of the NX-1 Enterprise, Vosk wore this badge on his black SS uniform. (ENT: "Storm Front, Part II") |
| Golden Nazi Party Pin | File:NSDAPPin.jpg | The Golden Nazi Party Pin was worn by both German military and Nazi Party personnel to denote high standing in the National Socialist Party. Vosk, while allied to the Germans in an alternate timeline, had been awarded this pin. (ENT: "Storm Front, Part II") |
Ribbons
- Iron Cross Second Class: Ribbon could either be worn on the primary ribbon bar or suspended from the second button of a wearer's uniform.
- War Merit Cross Second Class: Ribbon version for the larger War Merit Cross.
- Eastern Front Ribbon: Awarded for service in Russia in 1941.
- SS Service Ribbon: Awarded for various years of service in the SS.
- Wehrmacht Service Ribbon: Awarded for various years of service in the German military.
- Czech Occupation Ribbon (with Prague Castle Bar): Awarded for participation in the occupation of Czechoslovakia with an attachement awarded for those who participated in the occupation of Prague.
- Iron Cross (World War I): Ribbon for the Iron Cross of World War I with an attachment for those awarded the same degree in World War II.
- Honor Cross of the Great War: A commemorative ribbon of the First World War.
- Anschluss Ribbon: Awarded to those who participated in the German occupation of Austria.
- Red Cross Ribbon: Awarded for various services with the German Red Cross.
- Fire Brigade Ribbon: Awarded for service on a fire brigade in response to bombing raids.
- State Decoration Ribbon: One of several state level decorations issued by the various German Kingdoms and authoirzed for continued wear during the reign of Nazi Germany.
The ribbons seen above are visible on German uniforms in "Storm Front" and "The Killing Game". In the case of Vosk and his men, it is highly likely that many of the ribbons were awarded as honorary decorations or were simply worn for show. This is since the Na'kuhl had not been on Earth long enough to participate in the events for which many of the ribbons had been awarded.
Background
The German General wearing the Knight's Cross of the
Iron Cross
The highest German decoration of the Second World War was the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded solely to Hermann Göring (a "Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross" was also produced but never actually awarded). Göring makes a brief appearance in "Storm Front, Part II" but the Grand Cross is not visable.
The German General in "Storm Front" wears the Knight's Cross with Swords and Oakleaves which is the highest grade of the decoration seen on screen. Higher grades included the Knight's Cross with Diamonds as well as a Golden Knight's Cross.
The Wound Badge was also issued in Silver and Gold, as well as a special grade known as the "Wound Badge of 20 July 1944", but these grades are never seen on camera.
No German Navy (Kriegsmarine) or Air Force (Luftwaffe) decorations have ever appeared in a Star Trek production.