Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German Fire Brigade Decoration 2nd Class (Feuerwehr-Ehrenzeichen 2. Stufe), an attractive enamel civil-service decoration associated with Germany's professional and volunteer firefighting organizations.

The decoration takes the form of a silver-finished cross with white enameled arms overlaid by four stylized red enameled flames. At the center is a separately applied white medallion bearing a black canted swas. emblem, while a circular silver-colored ring passes behind the arms of the cross. Raised lettering around this ring reads:

FÜR VERDIENSTE IM FEUERLÖSCHWESEN

Which translates as: “For Merit in the Firefighting Service.”

The reverse is plain and unmarked. The decoration retains its suspension ring and a short section of the correct-pattern ribbon, displaying the characteristic dark red edging, orange side stripes, and white center.
The decoration remains in good condition with attractive red, white, and black enamel. There is expected surface scratching, discoloration, and scattered wear to the enamel and silvered portions. The reverse exhibits a dark, even age patina. The suspension ring remains present.
The accompanying ribbon is only a short section rather than a full-length ribbon and shows considerable age and fraying. Despite this, its original color arrangement remains clearly recognizable and it displays very nicely with the medal.

The national German fire brigade decoration was originally instituted on 22 December 1936 by Interior Minister Wilhelm Frick, replacing or supplementing the numerous regional decorations previously used by individual German states and municipalities. The decoration was divided into two grades. The 2nd Class was intended primarily as a long-service award, while the higher grade recognized particularly distinguished service or courageous conduct during firefighting operations.

The regulations were revised on 30 January 1938. Under the revised system, the 2nd Grade was specifically awarded to members of recognized professional or volunteer fire brigades who had honorably completed 25 years of firefighting service. The 1st Grade was reserved for special merit in firefighting administration or for particularly courageous and determined conduct while fighting fires. The 1938 regulation also formally described the flaming cross, central emblem, surrounding inscription, and ribbon suspension used on the decoration.

The 1938 revision is important when identifying surviving examples. The earlier system had employed a substantially larger pin-back 1st Class decoration, while the 2nd Class was already a smaller ribbon-suspended silvered cross. Beginning in 1938, both grades were made in the approximately 43 mm ribbon-suspended form, with the 1st Grade distinguished by a gilt finish and the 2nd Grade by its silver finish. The silver construction of the present example therefore identifies it as the 2nd Grade, associated with 25 years of honorable firefighting service.

The ribbon is also noteworthy. Surviving regulations describe a red-and-white ribbon, while detailed period-decoration references record the familiar arrangement seen here: narrow dark-red edges, orange side fields, and a broad white center. The abbreviated ribbon surviving with this example still retains that distinctive pattern.