- Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
- Institution: 6 November 1936
- Country: Germany
The Bailiwick of Brandenburg of the Chivalric Order of Saint John of the Hospital at Jerusalem (or Balley Brandenburg des Ritterlichen Ordens Sankt Johannis vom Spital zu Jerusalem in German), commonly referred to as the Order of Saint John or the Johanniter Order (Johanniterorden), is the German Protestant branch of the Knights Hospitaller. The order, considered the oldest surviving chivalric order, is believed to have been established in Jerusalem in 1099.
The current leader, or Herrenmeister (Master of the Knights/Grand Master), is Oskar Prince of Prussia. The order comprises approximately four thousand knights globally, classified as either Knights of Justice (Rechtsritter) or Knights of Honour (Ehrenritter). Membership is by invitation only and is not restricted to German nationals or speakers. Though the order no longer requires noble status for membership since 1948, most members still come from the nobility. The order includes seventeen commanderies in Germany and one each in Austria, Finland, France, Hungary, and Switzerland, along with a global commandery with subcommanderies in twelve other countries, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Italy, Namibia, Poland, South Africa, the UK, the US, and Venezuela.
The Order of Saint John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg) Design
The cloak of the Order is primarily black, featuring a prominent white, linen eight-pointed cross on the left breast. Most knights wear cloaks made of black wool, while French knights add distinctive white wool collars.
The basic insignia is a white-enamelled Maltese cross. Since 1668, the crosses have featured crowned Brandenburg (later Prussian) eagles between the arms. For Knights of Justice, Honorary Commanders, Commanders, and the Herrenmeister, the eagles are gold, while for Knights of Honour and Honorary Members, the eagles are enamelled black with gold crowns. The cross’s size varies by rank: 5 cm for Knights of Justice, 5.5 cm for Commanders and Honorary Commanders, 6 cm for Knights of Honour, and 7 cm for the Herrenmeister. Each cross is worn on a black-moire ribbon around the neck.
Members may also wear a plain Maltese cross as a star or ‘breast badge,’ typically made of plain linen, with enamelled stars in silver or silver gilt for formal occasions. Additionally, a smaller white-enamelled Maltese cross in gold or silver may be worn on the left lapel of a knight’s suit or sportcoat.
