The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Documents · Military papers

Award Documents: History, Contents and Collector’s Guide

Award Documents – example from the Autographs & Militaria collection
Example from the collection: 1939 German Mother’s Cross Award Document – Adolf Hitler Facsimile Signature
Also called Besitzzeugnis, Verleihungsurkunde
Issued by Military units, ministries, party offices and local authorities
Signatures Commanders and officials in ink; heads of state often in facsimile
Related records Wehrpass and Soldbuch entries
In the collection 4 pieces currently available (see below)

Award documents certify that a named person received a decoration. They turn an anonymous medal into a documented award and are often more interesting, and more valuable, than the medal itself.

What Is a Award Documents?

Most German awards of the period were accompanied by a certificate. For military awards these were usually printed forms completed with the recipient’s name, rank, unit and the date, and signed by the authorising commander. For civil awards, ministries, party offices and local authorities issued certificates, often with printed facsimile signatures. The award should also be recorded in the recipient’s service books.

Who Issued It, and Who Signed It?

Military certificates were typically signed in ink by a regimental or divisional commander or his staff. Higher awards might carry the signature of a senior commander. Civil certificates often carry facsimiles of the head of state and an ink countersignature. See original signature or facsimile.

What Should Collectors Watch For?

  • Consistency: name, unit and date must match the service books.
  • Signatories: the commander must have held that post on that date.
  • Reproductions of blank forms exist; check paper, printing and stamps.

Collector’s Note

The signature of the commander on an award document can be checked against his career. That makes the document a piece of evidence, not just a piece of paper.

Related Entries and Pieces

Pieces in the Collection

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is an award document?

A certificate confirming that a named person received a decoration.

Who signed military award documents?

Usually the authorising commander or his staff, in ink.

Are signatures on award documents original?

Military ones are often in ink; civil ones often carry facsimiles.

Historical Responsibility Notice: this entry documents historical figures and artefacts of the National Socialist period for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology, and it is written in memory of the victims of the regime.

References & Further Reading