Awards & Medals

 

German Iron Crosses (Quick history)

The German Iron Cross is certainly the most well known and historically German award ever.
It was first introduced on March 10, 1813 by King Frederick William III of Prussia as an award for bravery during the War of Liberation against Napoleon.

The Iron Cross was reinstituted in 1870 for the Franco-Prussian War, and also in (1914) for the World War I.
Hitler reinstituted the Iron Cross in 1939 and replaced the centre placed oak leaf with the swastika which was the symbol of the Third Reich.

The iron cross was awarded in its various grades to all branches of the German Wehrmacht including the Waffen-SS for acts of bravery, heroism and leadership.

The Iron Cross was divided into three main groups of awards.
The Iron Cross, the knight’s Cross and the Grand Cross.

The standard 1939 Iron Cross (Eiserne Kreuz) was issued as 2nd Class and 1st Class.

Iron Cross 2nd Class

The Iron Cross 2nd Class came with a ribbon and was worn in one of three alternative methods.

1. The EK was worn from the second button of the tunic.
2. The EK was worn mounted alone or as part of a medal bar when wearing formal dress.
3. Only the ribbon without the EK was worn from the second hole in the tunic button.

Iron Cross 1st Class

The Iron Cross First Class was either the pin-on type or the scarcer screw-back type with no ribbon and was worn as a medal in the centre of the uniform breast pocket.
2nd class Iron Cross having to be earned before any chance to qualify for the 1st class Iron Cross.

The Knight's Cross

"Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes" was the award for conspicious gallantry or outstanding leadership in battle during the Third Reich period. The award was issued between 1939 and 1945.
1st Class Iron Cross had to be earned before any chance to qualify for the Knight's Cross.

Knight's Cross was divided into five degrees

1. Knight's Cross
2. Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves
3. Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
4. Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds
5. Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds

Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (1939) (Großes Kreuz)

The Grand Cross was not a bravery award, it was an award reserved for General officers that show outstanding leadership and strategic decisions that clearly affecting the course of the war in a positive way.

Hermann Göring alone and no one else awarded the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross for his command of the Luftwaffe during the successful campaign against France, Belgium, and the Netherlands in 1940.

War Merit Cross (Kriegsverdienstkreuz)

The non-combatant War Merit Cross could be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel.
The award was graded the same as the Iron Cross: War Merit Cross Second Class, War Merit Cross First Class, and Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross.

There were two variants of the War Merit Cross

1. War Merit Cross with swords was given to soldiers for outstanding service in battle above and beyond the call of duty.
2. War Merit Cross without swords was given to soldiers as well as civilians for exceptional service behind the lines.

Lower grade of the War Merit Cross had to be earned before any chance to qualify for the next level.

 

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