Decoration for Defence Economy Leaders.

Decoration for Defence Economy Leaders.

Instituted on March 1939

Rarity – Extremely rare

Known Makers – Umarked

This award took the form of an oval badge which measured 46 mm high and 35 mm wide. It had the outer edge with an indented inner line which measured 4 mm wide. The lower half of the oval was an open oak leaf wreath with two oak leaves with their stalks crossed. From these on either side are five bunches of three oak leaves. The badge at the top has the national emblem surmounting a banner in three folds bearing the inscription Wehr – Wirtschaft – Führer. Immediately below this is a factory complex belching smoke.

The reverse is plain with a vertical hinge pin and hook. The hinge and hook are held to the badge by an oval plate. The badge was constructed from aluminium and was gilded with the leading edges of the Eagles wing and the inscription being burnished. The badge was manufactured by the Firm, C. E. Juncker of Berlin S.W.68.

There is a second version that is of the same design, but measured 42 mm high and 33 mm wide. The reverse is plain with a vertical hinge pin and C shaped hook. The hinge and hook are held to the badge without an oval plate. The badge was constructed from tombak and was gilded with the leading edges of the Eagles wing and the inscription not being burnished.

It was worn on the left breast. A miniature version, differering slightly from the full size badge was worn on the left lapel. A citation accompanied the bestowal of the badge.

The full size badge and miniature version.

On 31^st January 1938, Goring set up a Council for Defence Economy. Its members were chosen from the leading industrialists in Germany. each member had the title “Defence Economy Leader”. The Council was charged with the responsibility of preparing and carrying out mobilization of the armenent industry and directing it in time of war. But before an industrialist could receive either the title or the badge, he had to submit a “declaration of political attitude” couched in the following terms, “I herewith declare I stand by the National Socialist concept of state without reservation and that I have not acted in any way against the interests of the people” proving this was a political as well as an industrial award.

The golden badge for Defence Economy Leaders was instituted in March 1939 to recognise the members of the Council and to single out industrial leaders above middle management level who contributed significantly to the furtherance of industrial management. Recommendation for the award had to come from the Kreis in which the proposed recipient worked and had to be approved by the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht.

A badge in wear at a conference in France  mid war.

Kehrl Hans - SS-Brigadeführer und Generalmajor der Polizei

 

6 August 1892 - 26 April 1984 D.

 

Party Number 498187  SS Number 278247

 

1914 Iron Cross Second Class, 1914 Iron Cross First Class, Cross of Honour 1914-18 Combatants, 1914 Wound Badge Black Class, Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords 27 November 1944 (23 September 1944), 1939 Iron Cross Second Class bar, 1939 Iron Cross First Class bar, War Merit Cross Second Class with Swords, War Merit Cross First Class with Swords, Decoration for Defence Economy Leaders, SS Honour Ring, SS Honour Sword.

 



 

How many awards were made is not known but assumed that the number was very small. Among the recipients were :-

 

Ambros	Otto, Prof. Dr. phil	1901-1990	I.G. Farben official, sentenced to 8 years' imprisonment at the I.G. Farben Trial for involvement in slavery and mass murder, he was released in 1952.
Burkart	Odilo	1898	Associate of Flick, acquitted at the Flick trial.
Bütefisch	Heinrich, Dr.-Ing.	1894-1969	SS-Obersturmbannführer - I.G. Farben official, sentenced to 6 years' imprisonment for his involvement in slave labour and mass murder. He was released in January 1951.
Dornier	Claude	1884-1969	Industrialist, created the Dornier planes for the Luftwaffe. He was exonerated by a de-Nazification court.
Flick	Friedrich	1883-1972	Head of several industries, sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment for involvement in slave labour, released in 1950.
Frydag	Karl, Dipl.-Ing.
Gajewski	Fritz	1888-1962	I.G. Farben official, acquitted at the I.G. Farben Trial.
Hayler	Franz, Dr. re. pol.
Heinkel	Ernst	1888-1958	Designer and manufacturer of the He planes during World War II. He was classified as a "fellow traveller" by a de-Nazification court and fined, despite involvement in slave labour.
Heyne	Hans, Dipl.-Ing.
Houdremont	Eduard	1896? - 1958	Krupp official, sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for involvement in slave labour, released at the same time as Krupp.
Ilgner	Max	1899-1966	I.G. Farben official, sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment for plunder and spoliation. He was released immediately, his sentence having been considered served.
Janssen - Krupp	Friedrich Wilhelm		Official, sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for involvement in slave labour, released at the same time as Krupp.
Kaletsch	Konrad		Flick official, acquitted of all charges at the Flick trial.
Kehrl	Hans  SS-Brigadeführer	6.8.1892 - 1984	Head of commodity Office in the Ministry of Armaments
Kessler	Philipp, Dr.-Ing.
Krauch	Carl	1887-1968	Chairman of the advisory board of I.G. Farben. Sentenced to 6 years' imprisonment for involvement in slave labour, released in 1950.
Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach	Gustav	1870-1950	Head of the Krupp industry until 1943, not tried due to ill health.
Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach	Alfried	1907-1967	NSFK-Standartenführer - Head of the Krupp industries, sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for his involvement in slave labour. He was released on February 4, 1951.
Löser	Ewald Oskar Ludwig	1888-1970	Krupp official was also involved in the July Plot. He avoided execution by faking partial amnesia, but was sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment for his involvement in slave labour. He was released in 1950.
Lüschen	Friedrich, Dr.-Ing. e.h., Dr. phil. hc.
Meer	Fritz Ter	1884-1967	Official of I.G. Farben, sentenced to 7 years' imprisonment for involvement in slave labour at Auschwitz, the only defendant convicted on charges of plunder, spoliation, mass murder, and slavery.
Merker	Otto
Messerschmitt	Wilhelm Prof. Dr-Ing.	1898-1978	Airplane designer and manufacturer, of the Messerschmitt planes. He was classified as a "fellow traveller" by a de-Nazification court and fined.
Müller	Erich		Official at Krupp, sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment for slave labour. Released at the same time as Krupp.
Pfirsch	Karl Heinrich		Official at Krupp, only defendant at the Krupp trial to be acquitted of all charges.
Pleiger	Paul
Röchling	Hermann, Dr.-Ing. Dr. rer. pol. hc.
Rohland	Walter, Dr.-Ing
Sauer	Hans		The weapons firm J.P. Sauer u. Sohn of Suhl and SS Bf Theo Croneiß
Saur	Karl Otto
Schmitz	Hermann	1881-1960	I.G. Farben official, sentenced to 4 years' imprisonment for plunder and spoliation.
Schneider	Christian		I.G. Farben official acquitted of all charges ath the I.G. Farben trial.
Schnitzler	Georg von	1884-1962	SA-Hauptsturmführer - Official of I.G. Farben, sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment for involvement in plunder and spoliation.
Steinbrinck	Otto	1888-1949	SS-Brigadeführer - in addition to being deputy to Friedrich Flick, was a captain in the navy. He was sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment for having membership in a criminal organization. He died in prison.
Tank	Kurt
Tengelmann.	Wilhelm
Tix	Arthur
Uhrig	Heinrich Dipl Ing.
Wagenfuhr	Felix		The main aircraft factory production manager "Arado".
Walther	Fritz		Designer of the Walther PP/PPK and P38
Werner	William, Dr.-Ing.
Wolff	Albert, Prof. dr. Ing.
Wurster	Karl, Prof. Dr.-Ing.
Zangen	Wilhelm	1891-1971	Industrialist and Vice President of the Chamber of Economics in Berlin. He continued to be a successful industrialist after the war.