It was introduced during the Weimar Republic, under President Friedrich Ebert and continued under Nazi Germany.
It was a high and infrequently awarded honor, received by around 70 people in total.
The Ministry of the Interior made decisions about the honour at the direction of the Reichskunstwart Edwin Redslob, who was also responsible for the design.
In total, the Adlerschild des Deutschen Reiches was awarded to twenty one people during the period of the Weimar Republic.
They were: The Adlerschild des Deutschen Reiches continued to be awarded during the Nazi period.