The honorary cup for outstanding combat performance of the Luftwaffe
The Honor Bowl was a non-wearable decoration of the German Luftwaffe during World War II. It was instituted on June 15, 1942, by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe. Colloquially, it is often simply referred to as the "Luftwaffen Honor Bowl." The Honor Bowl was intended as a counterpart to the Honor Goblet for special achievements in the air war , which was to be awarded only to aircrew. However, due to the increasing involvement of the Luftwaffe in ground combat (Luftwaffe Field Divisions), it became necessary to create a comparable award for these soldiers as well. The awarding of the Honor Bowl, like the Honor Goblets, was discontinued at the end of 1944 on the orders of Hermann Göring.
Design of the honorary bowl for outstanding combat performance of the Luftwaffe
The alpaca-embossed and silver-plated bowl features the eagle of Reich Marshal Hermann Göring at its center. An eagle facing right, holding a large swastika in its claws; behind the swastika are two crossed marshal's batons. Below the eagle is a ribbon inscribed "IN RECOGNITION OF OUTSTANDING COMBAT SERVICE." Above the eagle is another ribbon engraved with the wearer's name and rank. Directly below this ribbon is another, smaller ribbon bearing the award date.
On the wide rim of the bowl are alternating outward-facing oak and laurel leaves; on the back at the top is the manufacturer's stamp "Joh. Wagner & Sohn" for the company Johann Wagner & Sohn, Berlin and next to it the material indication "Alpaca - Fine silver plating".
The bowl has a diameter of 280 mm and weighs approximately 410 g. It comes with a blue case measuring 320 x 320 x 45 mm. It is covered with blue paper on the outside and lined with black velvet on the inside. The lid is lined with white silk.
Requirements for the award of the honorary cup for outstanding combat performance of the Air Force
The honorary bowl could be awarded to all members of the Air Force deployed in ground combat who had distinguished themselves through outstanding bravery, but whose actions did not meet the requirements for the award of the German Cross in Gold However, they should already be in possession of the Iron Cross 1nd Class and the Ground Combat Badge of the Luftwaffe .
Furthermore, Hermann Göring reserved the right to award the honorary cup personally.
Number of awards of the honorary cup for outstanding combat performance of the Luftwaffe
Unfortunately, the award lists are incomplete. Often, only 50 awards are mentioned. However, in my opinion, this number is significantly too low. Based on my years of observation and experience as a specialist dealer, I estimate several hundred awards. I am also aware that several unengraved bowls from the manufacturer's stock surfaced in Berlin after the war.
The certificate for the honorary cup for outstanding combat performance of the Luftwaffe
The recipient received a certificate of award and was entered into the Luftwaffe's honor roll. Like all decorations, the honorary bowl was also recorded in the service record book and pay book.
Value and purchase of a trophy for outstanding combat performance of the Luftwaffe
A value can only be determined individually, as the name of the borrower plays an important role in the value. However, prices can generally be expected to start at €5.000.
