Third Reich medal and award maker numbers

The Third Reich military and state awards often featured maker numbers for several reasons:

1. Quality Control: The maker numbers were a way to ensure consistent quality of awards and insignia. Each manufacturer was held accountable for the quality of the items they produced. If defects or issues arose, the source could easily be traced back to a specific maker.

2. Regulation of Production: The use of maker numbers allowed the German government to regulate production more effectively. By assigning specific manufacturers to produce certain awards, they could control quantities and ensure that materials were being used appropriately during wartime.

3. Counterfeit Prevention: Maker numbers helped distinguish genuine awards from counterfeit or unofficial versions. This was particularly important for maintaining the prestige and authenticity of awards, especially during a time when their symbolic and morale-boosting value was high.

4. Identification and Authentication: Today, these maker numbers are invaluable to collectors and historians for identifying the origin of specific awards. The numbers help to authenticate items and trace their manufacturing history.

The maker numbers were typically stamped or engraved on the awards and corresponded to a registered list of manufacturers authorized by the Reich government. This practice also reflected the highly organized and bureaucratic nature of the Nazi regime.

The use of maker numbers applied to select awards during the Third Reich, rather than all of them. This system was primarily implemented for higher-quality, prestigious decorations and items that required strict manufacturing standards, such as:

1. Orders and Decorations:

• Iron Cross (EK 1 and EK 2)

• Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grades

• War Merit Cross

• German Cross

• Honor Roll Clasp

2. Badges:

• Infantry Assault Badge

• Panzer Assault Badge

• Wound Badges

• Luftwaffe Pilot Badges and other flight-related badges

3. Medals:

• Eastern Front Medal (also called the “Frozen Meat Medal”)

• Long Service Medals

Exceptions:

1. Mass-produced or low-rank awards: awards produced in large quantities and with less emphasis on prestige, such as campaign ribbons or tinnies (commemorative pins), often did not carry maker marks or numbers.

2. Non-official variants: in some cases, private-purchase versions or unofficial copies of awards (made for wear on non-military uniforms or civilian clothes) were not always marked with maker numbers.

Other Notable Markings:

• LDO Marks: Some awards bore an “LDO” stamp, indicating that they were privately manufactured but authorized for purchase by military personnel.

• RZM Marks: Items like Nazi Party insignia and uniforms were marked with “RZM” (Reichszeugmeisterei), the Nazi organization for quality control over party-related goods. RZM marks are dealt with in a separate post.

Thus, the application of maker numbers was selective and depended on the award’s purpose, prestige, and manufacturing complexity.

Some Third Reich awards featured a company emblem, logo, or name instead of a maker number due to variations in production practices and the regulations governing specific items. This difference can be attributed to several factors:

1. Pre-Regulation Standards:

• Before the standardized use of maker numbers became widespread, some manufacturers marked awards with their company emblems or full names as a branding or identification practice.

• These markings were common on early designs of awards, particularly before the implementation of more stringent wartime regulations.

2. Prestige and Craftsmanship:

• Certain prestigious manufacturers, such as C.E. Juncker, Otto Schickle, or Deschler & Sohn, included their company names or emblems to signify high-quality craftsmanship. This branding served to distinguish their products in a competitive marketplace, especially for private-purchase versions of awards.

• For example, privately purchased or jewelers’ versions of awards, which were often finer in detail and quality, frequently carried the full company name or logo.

3. Dual Marking Practices:

• Some companies used both a maker number and their emblem. This allowed them to comply with regulations while still maintaining their brand identity.

• For instance, a badge could have a maker number like “24” alongside the company’s hallmark.

4. Early Party Items:

• Awards and insignia produced for the NSDAP (Nazi Party) and related organizations before the war often carried RZM markings, which sometimes included company emblems rather than numerical codes.

5. Transition During Wartime:

• As wartime production ramped up, the need for efficiency, quality control, and traceability led to the adoption of the standardized maker number system. However, some manufacturers, particularly those with well-established reputations, continued to use their logos or emblems for certain items.

In summary, the presence of a company emblem instead of a number reflects the evolution of production practices over time and the specific manufacturer’s approach to marking their products. These emblems often indicate early production, high-quality craftsmanship, or private-purchase versions of awards.

Most combat awards from the Third Reich did not consistently feature maker numbers during wartime production due to several practical and logistical reasons:

 

1. Mass Production Requirements

 

Combat awards, such as the Infantry Assault Badge, Wound Badge, and War Merit Cross 2nd Class, were produced in massive quantities to meet the high demand on all fronts.

• To streamline production, many of these awards were not individually marked with maker numbers, as adding these marks would slow down manufacturing.

• Instead, the focus was on quantity and functionality, as these awards were meant to recognize the efforts of a large number of soldiers quickly.

 

2. Reduced Prestige of Mass-Issued Awards

 

Higher-level awards, such as the Knight’s Cross or German Cross, were made with greater attention to detail and quality because they carried more prestige and symbolic importance. These awards often had maker numbers or logos for quality control and authentication.

• Conversely, common combat awards were considered utilitarian, and the lack of a maker number reflected their lower symbolic value in comparison.

 

3. Simplification During Wartime

 

As the war progressed, production became more decentralized, with smaller factories and workshops contributing to the manufacture of combat awards.

• These smaller producers might not have been equipped to apply maker marks consistently.

• Standardization efforts prioritized speed and material conservation over traceability.

 

4. Non-Personalized Nature of Combat Awards

 

Combat awards were often issued directly to soldiers in the field, sometimes in bulk, with less concern about their specific origin. Soldiers cared more about receiving the recognition than the craftsmanship of the award.

• This differed from higher awards, which were typically presented in formal ceremonies and expected to have a certain level of precision and authenticity.

 

5. The “Packeted” System

 

Many awards were distributed in packets or envelopes that included identifying details about the award and manufacturer (e.g., the maker name or number printed on the packaging).

• The physical award itself was not always marked, as the packaging served as the identifier.

 

Examples of Combat Awards Without Numbers

• Infantry Assault Badge: Commonly unmarked during wartime, though some early versions bore maker marks.

• General Assault Badge: Many lacked numbers, especially later in the war.

• Wound Badge: Frequently unmarked unless a private-purchase version.

• Iron Cross 2nd Class: Rarely featured a maker number on the medal itself; instead, the ring or accompanying paperwork sometimes carried the number.

Exceptions

While most combat awards were unmarked, some manufacturers did apply their numbers (e.g., “65” for Klein & Quenzer). However, this was the exception rather than the rule, particularly for mass-issued awards.

The absence of maker numbers on combat awards reflected the practical demands and priorities of a wartime economy focused on speed and efficiency.

 

Here is the full list of the Pkz and LDO numbers, the corresponding authorised companies, and their locality.

 

Prasidialkanzlei number	COMPANY	LOCALITY
1	Deschler &Sohn	Munchen
2	C.E. Junker	Berlin
3	Wilheim Deumer	Ludenscheld
4	Steinhauer & Luck	Ludenscheld
5	Hermann Wernstein	Jena-Lobstedt
6	Fritz Zimmermann	Stuttgart
7	Paul Meyhauer	Berlin
8	Ferdinand Hoffstadter	Bonn a. Rhein
9	Liefergsmeinschaft Scmuckhandwerker	Pforzheim
10	Foerster & Barth	Pforzheim
11	Grossmann & Co.	Wien
12	Frank & Reif	Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen
13	Gustav Brehmer	Markneukirchen/Sa
14	L. Chr. Lauer	Nurnberg-W
15	Friedrich Orth	Wien
16	Alols Rettenmaler	Scwablsch-Gmund
17	Schwerin & Sohn	Berlin
18	Karl Wurster K.G.	Markneukirchen/Sa
19	E. Ferd Weidmann	Frankfurt/Main
20	C.F. Zimmermann	Pforzheim
21	Gebr. Godet & Co.	Berlin
22	Boerger & Co.	Berlin
23	Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Heereshedarf	darf In der Graveur-u. Ziseleurinnung
24	Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Hanauer	Plaket-ten-hersteller
25	Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Graveur-Gold-und	Silberschemiede-Innungen
26	B. H. Mayer's Kunst-prageanstalt	Pforzheim
27	Anton Schenkl's Nachf.	Wien
28	Eugen Schmidthaussier	Pforzheim
29	Hauptmunzamt	Berlin
30	Hauptmunzamt	Wien
31	Hans Gnad	Wien
32	W. Hobachter	Wien
33	Friedrich Linden	Ludenscheld
34	Willy Annetsberger	Munchen
35	F.W. Assmann & Sohn	Ludenscheld
36	Bury & Leonhard	Hanau a. M
37	Ad. Baumeister	Ludenscheid
38	AG Muk	Gablonz
39	Rudolf Berge	Gablonz
40	Berg & Nolte	Ludenscheld
41	Geb. Bender	Oberstein
42	Biedermann & Co.	Oberkassel
43	Julius Bauer Sohne	Zella Mehlisi/Thur.
44	Jakob Bengel	Oberdonau
45	Franz Jungwirth	Wien
46	Hans Doppler	Oberdonau
47	Erhard & Sohne A.G.	Schwabisch Gmund
48	Richard Feix	Gablonz
49	Josef Feix Sohne	Gablonz
50	Karl Gschiermeister	Wien
51	Eduard Goriach & Sohne	Gablonz
52	Gottlieb & Wagner	Oberstein
53	Glaser & Sohne	Dresden
54	Gebrüder Wegerhoff	Ludenscheid
55	J.E. Hammer & Sohne	Geringswalde
56	Robert Hauschild	Pforzheim
57	Karl Hensler	Pforzheim
58	Artur Jakel & Co.	Gablonz/N.
59	Louis Keller	Oberstein
60	Katz & Deyhle	Pforzheim
61	Rudolf A. Karneth & Sohne	Gablonz a.N.
62	Kerbach & Oesterhelt	Dresden
63	Franz Klast & Sohne	Gablonz a.N.
64	Gottl. Fr. Keck & Sohn	Pforzheim
65	Klein & Quenzer A.G.	Idar/Oberstein
66	Freidrich Keller	Oberstein
67	H. Krelsel	Gablonz a.N.
68	Alfred Knobloch	Gablonz a.N.
69	Alols Klammer	Innsbruck
70	Lind & Meyrer	Oberstein a.d.N.
71	Rudolf Leukert	Oberstein a.d.N.
72	Franz Lipp	Pforzheim
73	Frank Manert	Gablonz a.N.
74	Carl Maurer Sohn	Oberstein/Nahe
75	Franke & Co	Ludenscheid
76	Ernst L. Muller	Pforzheim
77	Bayer. Hauptmunzamt	Munchen
78	Gustav Miksch	Gablonz/N.
79	Matthias Kutsche	Attendorn
80	G.H. Osang	Dresden
81	Overhoff & Cle	Ludenscheid
82	Augustin Prager	Gablonz a.N.
83	Emll Peukert	Gablonz a.N.
84	Carl Poellath	Schrobenhausen
85	Julius Pletsch	Gablonz/N.
86	Paulmann & Crone	Ludenscheid
87	Roman Palme	Gablonz a.N.
88	Werner Redo	Saarlautern
89	Rudolf Richter	Schlag 244 b. Gablonz
90	Aug. F. Richter K.G.	Hamburg
91	Josef Rossler & Co.	Gablonz a.d.N.
92	Josef Rucker & Sohn	Gablonz a.d.N.
93	Richard Simm & Sohne	Gablonz a.d.N.
94	Ossenberg-Engels	Iserlohn
95	Adolf Scholze	Grunwald a.d.N.
96	Robert Klein	Wien
97	A.E. Kochert	Wien
98	Rudolf Souval	Wien
99	Schwertner & Cle.	Eggenberg
100	Rudolf Wachtler & Lange	Mittweida
101	Rudolf Tam	Gablonz a.d.N.
102	Philipp Turks Ww.	Wien
103	Aug. G. Tam	Gablonz a.d.N.
104	Hein. Ulbricht's Ww.	Kaufing b/Schwanenstadt
105	Heinrich Vogt	Pforzheim
106	Bruder Schneider A.G.	Wien
107	Carl Wild	Hamburg
108	Arno Wallpach	Salzburg
109	Walter & Hentein	Gablonz a.d.N.
110	Otto Zappe	Gablonz a.d.N.
111	Ziemer & Sohne	Oberstein
112	Argentor Werke Rust & Hetzel	Wien
113	Hermann Aurich	Dresden
114	Ludwig Bertsch	Karlsruhe
115	Richard Sieper & Söhne	Ludenscheid
116	Frunke & Brunninghaus	Ludenscheid
117	Hugo Lang	Wiesenthal a.N.
118	August Menzs & Sohn	Wien
119	Alfred Stubbe	Berlin
120	Franz Petzl	Wien
121	Imme & Sohn	Berlin
122	JJ. Stahl	Strassburg
123	Beck, Hassinger & Co.	Strassburg
124	Rudolf Schanes	Wien
125	Eugen Gauss	Pforzheim
126	Eduard Hahn	Oberstein/Nahe
127	Moritz Hausch A.G.	Pforzheim
128	S. Jablonski G.m.b.H.	Posen
129	Fritz Kohm	Pforzheim
130	Wilh. Schroder & Co.	Ludenscheld
131	Heinrich Wander	Gablonz
132	Franz Reischauer	Oberstein
133	Hermann Aurich	Dresden
134	Otto Klein & Co.	Hanau
135	Julius Moser sen	Oberstein
136	J.Wagner & Sohn	Berlin
137	J.H. Werner	Berlin
138	Julius Maurer	Oberstein
139	Hymmen & Co.	Ludenscheid
140	Schauerte & Hohfeld	Ludenscheid
141	Sohni, Heubach & Co	Oberstein
142	A.D. Schwerdt	Stuttgart

 

LDO list

LDO #	COMPANY NAME	LOCALITY
L/10	Deschler & Sohn,	Munchen
L/11	Wilhelm Deumer	Ludenscheid
L/12	C.E. Junker,	Berlin SW 68
L/13	Paul Meybauer	Berlin SW 68
L/14	Friedrich Orth	Wien
L/15	Otto Schickle	Pforzheim
L/16	Steinhauer & Luck	Ludenscheid
L/17	Hermann Wernstein, Jena Lobstedt	Jena
L/18	D.H. Mayer's, Hofkunstprageanstalt	Pforzheim
L/19	Ferkinand Hoffstatter	Bonn/Rhein
L/21	Foerster & Barth	Pforzheim
L/22	Rudolf Souval,	Wein
L/23	Julius Maurer	Oberstein
L/24	Fritzzimmermann	Stuttgart
L/25	A.E. Kochert	Wein
L/26	Klein & Quenzer	Oberstein
L/50	Gebr. Godet & Co.	Berlin W8
L/51	E. Ferd. Wiedmann	Frankfurt
L/52	C.F. Zimmermann	Pforzheim
L/53	Hymmen & Company	Ludenscheid
L/53	Hymmen & Co.	Ludenscheid
L/54	Schauerte & Hohfeld	Ludenscheid
L/55	Wachtler & Lange Rudolf	Mittwaida
L/56	Funcke & Bruninghaus	Ludenscheid
L/57	Boerger & Company	Berlin SO 16
L/58	Glaser & Sohn	Dresden
L/59	Alois Rettenmaier	Schwabisch-Gmund
L/60	Gustav Brehmer	Markneukirchen
L/61	Friedrich Linden	Ludenscheild
L/62	Werner Redo	Saarlautern
L/63	G.H. Osang	Dresden
L/64	F.A. Assmann & Sohne	Ludenscheid
L/65	Dr. Franke & Co.	Ludenscheid
L/66	A.D. Schwerdt	Stuttgart