Description
German Nazi Party Blood Order Medal – Honor Medal of November 9, 1923
(Blutorden der NSDAP) – Marked “2140 RDR”
This is an authentic example of the Nazi Party Blood Order Medal (Blutorden), officially titled the Honor Medal of November 9, 1923, one of the most exclusive and historically significant awards of the Third Reich. Instituted in 1924, the Blood Order was awarded to individuals who took part in the Beer Hall Putsch in Munich on November 9, 1923, or who were later recognized as qualifying early participants and supporters of the Nazi movement during its formative years.
The Blood Order was not a general award and was issued in very limited numbers, making it among the rarest political decorations of the period. Eligibility was restricted primarily to those who marched with Adolf Hitler during the failed coup attempt, as well as a small number of early party members who suffered imprisonment or injury in connection with the event. As a result, recipients included both civilian activists and paramilitary participants, many of whom later rose to prominent positions within the Nazi Party hierarchy.
This example is clearly numbered “2140 RDR”, stamped on the reverse, consistent with numbered issue Blood Orders awarded to verified recipients. The medal is circular and silver-plated, displaying the correct form and construction associated with period production. The obverse features the central inscription commemorating November 9, 1923, while the reverse bears the award numbering, an important attribute for authenticity and collectibility.
Historical significance:
The Blood Order occupies a unique place in Third Reich award history, symbolizing the mythologized “founding struggle” of the Nazi Party prior to its rise to power in 1933. It functioned not only as a decoration but as a visible marker of early loyalty and ideological commitment. Within the regime, the award carried considerable prestige and was worn prominently at party functions and state ceremonies.
Due to its limited issuance, direct association with a pivotal historical event, and numbered attribution, the Blood Order remains one of the most sought-after and important political decorations of the era, valued strictly for its historical and collectible significance.
