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Decoration · Germany (Third Reich)
Ehrenzeichen für deutsche Volkspflege
(opens the listing on LiveAuctioneers)
(opens the image page on Wikimedia Commons)Reference image
Reference image: PDDPublic domainWikimedia Commons
Ribbon image: PDDPublic domainWikimedia Commons
Sold median$113
median of 163 recent sales, 269 in all · typically $69 – $375 · 21 for sale now
All classes, authentic single pieces, US dollars with buyer's premium; recent = dated sales of the last 10 years. Updated 3 Nov 2026.
The Social Welfare Decoration (German: Ehrenzeichen für deutsche Volkspflege) was a German Civil Award created by Adolf Hitler on 1 May 1939 for services in the social sector.
It could be awarded to Germans and foreigners for a wide variety of service to the German state in the social sector. This included service with the Winterhilfswerk, the National Socialist People's Welfare, medical and rescue work, or care of ethnic Germans. It replaced the German Red Cross Decoration.
It was conferred in four classes, each consisting of a white-enamelled gold Balkenkreuz, with the Reich eagle and swastika in the centre, and a medal:
Special class (Sonderstufe): a four-rayed breast star with the badge worn from a sash over the right shoulder; never awarded.
1st class with diamonds (1. Stufe mit Brillanten): exclusively for ladies of high rank. Worn on the left shoulder from a bow; only known to have been awarded to Maria Antonescu
1st class (1. Stufe): a neck decoration
2nd class (2. Stufe): worn on the left side on a pin
3rd class (3. Stufe): worn on the left chest from a ribbon
Medal of Social Welfare: a circular silver coloured medal, worn on the left chest from a ribbon.
From Wikipedia (article), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sold: realised prices with buyer's premium, median and middle 50%. Buy now: asking prices, kept separate.
Class not stated
1st Class
3rd Class
2nd Class
4th Class
| Class | Sold median | Typical range | Sales | Buy now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class not stated | $75 | $50 – $109 | 82last 17 Oct 2026 | 16 listed · $75 – $405 |
| 1st Class | $938 | $375 – $1,761 | 28last 11 Oct 2025 | 3 listed · $227 – $2,750 |
| 3rd Class | $260 | $96 – $479 | 28last 7 Sept 2026 | None listed |
| 2nd Class | $282 | $125 – $849 | 16last 21 Oct 2026 | 2 listed · $875 – $892 |
3rd Class with Swords
Bronze
Silver
Photos and titles belong to the listing's source; each links to it.
MA-Shopsseen
€120
approximately ≈ $137
| 4th Class |
|---|
| $94 |
| $74 – $120 |
| 13last 4 Mar 2023 |
| None listed |
with Swords
| Class | Sold median | Typical range | Sales | Buy now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Class with Swords | $330 | $330 | 1 | None listed |
| Bronze | $175 | $175 | 1last 30 Nov 2022 | None listed |
| Silver | $85 | $85 | 1 | None listed |
| with Swords | $120 | $120 | 1last 9 Sept 2023 | None listed |
Invaluablesold
$140
+ est. 25% premium ≈ $175 paid
€75
approximately ≈ $86
+ est. 25% premium ≈ $108 paid
MA-Shopsseen
$142
MA-Shopsseen
$181
German Historica
€90
approximately ≈ $103
German Historica
€165
approximately ≈ $188
Griffin Militaria
$75