Chancellery of Orders and Decorations of Tanoa

The Chancellery of Orders and Decorations of Tanoa was the central authority administering the orders, decorations, and medals of the Tanoa Einsatzgruppen. It examined nominations and kept the official award rolls. After the required approval, it issued warrants and insignia.

Award administration

Routine awards were conferred in the name of the Führer, while the highest honours required his personal approval. The chancellery checked nominations before submitting them for that approval. Every appointment and promotion in the Order of Tanoa, for example, required the Führer's approval as Grand Master.

Not every award required prior central approval. Formation commanders could issue the Tanoan Wound Badge from the supporting medical record and forward the award for registration. The chancellery issued the Medal of Honour for the Fallen automatically on certified medical and death records, without a formation recommendation or political approval.

Records and warrants

The approval date entered in the roll and warrant was the legal award date. The qualifying action or service period was recorded separately from the presentation date. Posthumous awards were entered in the deceased recipient's name. Families or estates retained the insignia and warrant without inheriting the right to wear the award.

Awards obtained through fraud or false evidence could be annulled, as could those based on a fundamental eligibility error. Revocation of a valid award could follow treason, enemy service or serious dishonouring conduct. Cancellation required a chancellery investigation and a reasoned Führer decree. Cancelled entries remained in the roll. Iron Cross revocation also required a final judgment.

Spanish and German had equal legal authority in honours administration. Official Dutch translations were supplied when needed.