Welfare Cross of Honour

The Welfare Cross of Honour was a decoration of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen for distinguished personal service in health or social welfare. Its official names were Cruz de Honor al Bienestar Social in Spanish and Ehrenkreuz für Volkspflege in German. It was established under Eef Paap's honours reform of 6 November 1987 and had three classes.

Eligibility

Paid and voluntary service could qualify. The Cross recognized medical care and nursing in peace or war, including care of the sick and wounded. It also covered public-health work and emergency relief. Military medical personnel were eligible. Foreigners could qualify through Tanoan-authorized institutions or relief operations.

Merit could consist of an exceptional contribution or sustained work with documented results. Awards remained individual even when several contributors were nominated together.

Classes

Class	Qualifying merit	Wear	Ribbon bar
First Class	Exceptional contribution of national importance to health or welfare, including the response to a major crisis	Neck cross	Gilt cross device
Second Class	Major contribution to an institution, health programme or relief operation	Pin-backed cross on the left breast	Silver-coloured cross device
Third Class	Distinguished personal service within an institution or local care or relief operation	Ribbon-suspended cross on the left breast	Plain ribbon bar

Recipients could receive the class justified by their work directly, without first receiving a lower class. Each class could be awarded once. A higher class required a new achievement of greater importance and barred any later award of a lower one. Only the highest class was worn. Earlier insignia remained with the recipient, and every award stayed in the official roll.

Nomination and approval

Hospital directors and heads of recognized welfare organizations nominated through the Health Ministry, as could territorial administrations or service chiefs. Cases were considered throughout the year without an annual quota. The ministry examined service records before the chancellery checked eligibility and class.

The chancellery conferred Second and Third Class in the Führer's name. First Class required personal approval by the Führer. The founding awards could recognize earlier completed service. Posthumous awards required the same evidence of merit.

Insignia

All classes used an equal-armed, straight-sided white-enamel cross with gilt edging. Its centre bore the state eagle holding a palm wreath containing a swastika. First and Third Class used red ribbons with broad white edges.

See also

• Orders, decorations, and medals of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen