by Hans Runge

The below is a selection of regulations dealing with the wear of awards and badges on the military uniform of the Heer and Waffen-SS. (1)

- It is allowed to wear up to two ribbons of war awards (EBS, EK II 1914 or EK II 1939, KVK 2., OstMed., BaltKrz., KVM) in the second button-hole and contemporary on the ribbon bar.
- It is forbidden to wear the following two ribbons of war awards together,-Honour Roll Clasp (EBS) and ribbon of the Iron Cross 1914 with an Iron Cross Repetition Clasp 1939 (EK II 1914 + WiederhSp. 1939) on it -, in the second button-hole (see: No. 2 of execution rules of OKH/PA from 30.01.1944 (AHM 1944, ? edit., no. 86, 21.02.1944, p. ?)). You have to wear the EBS in the button-hole and the EK II + WiederhSp. on the ribbon bar.
- It is allowed to wear the ribbon of the Medal for Lifesaving in the second button-hole, even together with two war award ribbons (“Während des Krieges können mit und ohne kleine Ordensschnalle (= Feldschnalle) höchstens zwei Bänder von Kriegsausszeichnungen und (das Band) der Rettungsmedaille im Knopfloch getragen warden”; Under-Secretary of State SS-Oberf. Dr. Doehle, Die Auszeichnungen des Grossdeutschen Reichs (Berlin, 1945 (5th edit.), p. 170)).
- It is allowed to wear up to two Wehrmacht Long Service Awards at the same time; these are the correct combinations of classes: DA IV, DA III and DA IV, DA II and DA IV, DA I and DA III as well as DA I with Oakleafs and DA III (see: execution decree to § 4 of institut. regulation about LSAs from 16.03.1936 (RGBl. 1936, I, p. 167), and 5th execution decree from 09.06.1939 (RGBl. 1939, I, p. 1032)).
- It is allowed to wear the last achieved Wehrmacht Long Service Award (Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht) together with one other long service award (= SS-Dienstauszeichnung, PolizeiDA, RAD-DA, Treudienst- Ehrenzeichen, Luftschutz-Ez, FeuerwehrEz, ZollgrenzschutzEz, GrubenwehrEz) (see: § 10 para. 2 general execution regulation from 30.01. 1938 (RGBl. 1938, I, p. 63f)). Comment: The ZollgrenzschutzEz is in a special decree, because it was not instituted in 1938.
- It is allowed to wear the Blood-Order / ribbon of the Blood-Order in the button-hole of the right pocket-flap (see: HVBl. 1940, 76 edit., No. 27, 28.12.1940, p. 505).
- It is forbidden to wear the ribbon of the KVK 2. m.S. with swords on it in the second button-hole. But you can contemporary wear it on the ribbon bar and here with swords (see: Regulation of OKW from 10.08.1940 (HVBl. 1940, ? edit., no. ?, ??.??.1940, p. ?)).
- It is allowed to wear the ribbon of the KVM in addition to the ribbon of the KVK 2. m.S. or KVK 2. in the second button-hole (obs: In both cases without swords) and contemporary on the ribbon bar (see: Decree of OKW from 27.11.1942 (MVBl. 1942, p. 1059, no. 964)).
- It is allowed to wear up to two sport badges on the left side beneath the orders and combat badges (see: § 5 para. 2 ErgG to GüT,O&E from 15.05.1934 RGBl. 1934, I, p. 379) or § 5 para. 1f and ax. to GüT,O&E from 01.07.1937 (RGBl. 1937, I, p. 725f) in connexion with § 8 para. 3 execution regulation of GüT,O&E from 14.11.1935 (RGBl. 1935, I, p. 1341ff)).
- It is allowed to wear one German Cross (Deutsches Kreuz) on the right side beneath the Blood-Order / ribbon of the Blood-Order, either DKiG or DKiS (see: Art. 2 para. 2 of instituting regulation from 28.09.1941 (RGBl. 1941, I, p. 593) and decree of OKW from 30.01.1943 (LVBl. 30.01.1943, p. 167)).
- It is allowed to wear one Spain-Cross w.s. in bronze, silver, gold or gold+ ; or Spain-Cross in bronze or silver (Spanien-Kreuz m.S. in Bronze, Silber, Gold oder Gold+; oder Spanien-Kreuz in Bronze oder Silber) on the right side beneath the Blood-Order and the German Cross (see: Art. 5 of statute from 14.04.1939 (RGBl. 1939, I, p. 1360) and ?).
- It is allowed to wear the highest grade of the Close Combat Clasp in bronze, silver or gold (Nahkampfspange in Bronze, Silber oder Gold) you got presented 1 cm above the ribbon clasp (see: No. 2 of execution decree of OKH/PA from 03.12.1942 (AHM 1943, 2 edit., no. 66, 17.01.1943, p. 35)).
- It is allowed to wear the highest grade of one Combat Badge of the Army (2)  (Kampfabzeichen des Heeres) on the left side (half-)beneath the orders (see: Army Dress Regulation (H-Anzg.O.) from 1941 and Decree of OKH from 01.06.1943 about wearing of military badges (Waffenabzeichen)).
- It is allowed to wear the highest grade of the Combat Badge of the Waffen SS and Police (3) (Kampfabzeichen der Waffen SS und Polizei) on the left side (half-)beneath the orders. And this even in addition to a Combat Badge of the Army. The Waffen SS and Police soldiers do wear this combat badge on the right side of their left pocket (see: ).
- It is allowed to wear the Combat Badge of the Army “Army´s Anti-Aircraft Artillery Badge” (Heeres-Flak-Abzeichen) on the left side (half-)beneath the orders. And this even in addition to one Combat Badge of the Army. In this case it is worn on the left side of their left pocket (see: Army Dress Regulation (H-Anzg.O.) from 1941).
- It is allowed to wear all the (Sleeve-)Shields ((Ärmel-)Schilder) you got presented in accordance to the instructions of their wearing on the left upper arm. If you have got one or more than one the first shield presented has to be 7 cm from the shoulder and the following added 0,5 cm beneath the cloth-basis of the first one, and the third beside the second one (see: Decree of OKH from 11.03.1943 (HVBl. 1943, B, p. 70)). (4)
- It is allowed to wear all the presented Single-handed Tank Destruction Stripes (Panzervernichtungsabzeichen) and Low-flying Aeroplane Destruction Stripes (Tieffliegervernichtungsabzeichen) in accordance to the instructions on the right upper arm. You can wear up to four of the white version and all of the gold-yellow version for five neutralised tanks or aeroplanes (see: e.g. Decree of OKH from 18.12.1943 (AHM 1944, 1 edit., no. 4, 07.01.1944, p. 2)). (5)
- It is allowed to wear all the Cufftitles (Ärmelbänder) you got presented in chronological order on the left forearm. The second one 1 cm above the first one (see: ). (6)
- It is allowed to wear the highest grade of a Wound-Badge in black, silver or gold (Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz, Silber oder Gold) from WW 1, Spanish Civil War, WW 2 or assassination attempt 20th July 1944 on the left side beneath the orders and combat badges (see: Art. 3 in connexion with art. 1 para. 2 of institut. regulation  from 01.09.1939 (RGBl. 1939, I, p. 1577) and no. 4 of execution rules from 01.09.1939 (HVBl. 1939, A, no. 83, p. 77)).

Special regulation for Waffen SS:
It is allowed to wear one SS Long Service Award of 4th, 3rd, 2nd or 1st grade (SS-DA) in the button-hole of the left pocket-flap (see: art. 3 para. 5 in connexion with para. 8 of statute from 21.10.1938 (RGBl. 1938, I, p. 1539)).

Footnotes

(1) The achievement badges Sharpshooter´s Badge of I, II or III grade (Scharfschützenabzeichen der I., II. oder III. Stufe), Balloon Observer Badge of I, II or III grade (Ballonbeobachterabzeichen der I., II. oder III. Stufe), Driver´s  Badge for Meritorious Service and Good Conduct in bronze, silver or gold (Kraftfahrbewährungsabzeichen in Bronze, Silber oder Gold), Germanic Achievement Badge in bronze or silver (Germanische Leistungsrune in Bronze oder Silber) and Army´s Mountain Guide Badge for Faithful Service and Good Conduct (Heeres-Bergführerabzeichen) of Wehrmacht, Army and Waffen SS are not affiliated.
(2) Combat Badges of the Army are: Infantry Assault Badge (Infanterie-Sturm-abzeichen) of the silver or bronze division; Tank Combat Badge (Panzer-kampfabzeichen) of the silver or bronze division of I, II, III, IV and IV+ grade; Assault Badge (Sturmabzeichen) of I, II, III, IV and IV+ grade.
(3) Combat Badge of the Waffen SS and Police is: Anti-partisan Combat Badge (Bandenkampfabzeichen) in bronze, silver or gold.
(4) Presented Sleeve-shields are: Narvik 1940, Cholm 1942, Krim 1941/1942, Demjansk 1942, Kuban 1943 and Lappland. Warschau was institut. 10.12.1944, but never presented; Budapest and Balkan were never instituted.
(5) The Tieffliegervernichtungsabzeichen was instituted 12.01.1945 and awarded to some soldiers, but there is no evidence any have ever been presented.
(6) Presented Cufftitles are: Kreta, Afrika, Metz 1944 and Kurland.