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German Cross

April 29, 2023

Not to be confused with Iron Cross.

The War Order of the German Cross (German: Der Kriegsorden Deutsches Kreuz), normally abbreviated to the German Cross or Deutsches Kreuz, was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941. It was awarded in two divisions: in gold for repeated acts of bravery or military leadership; and in silver for distinguished non-combat war service. The German Cross in Gold ranked higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, while the German Cross in Silver ranked higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords.[2]

German Cross
Deutsches Kreuz
German Cross in Gold (left) and Silver (right)
TypeMilitary Order
Awarded forGold: for repeated exceptional acts of bravery or troop leadership
Silver: for continued distinguished acts of service in the war effort
Presented byNazi Germany
EligibilityMilitary personnel
Campaign(s)World War II
StatusObsolete
Established28 September 1941
Total~24,204 in Gold
~ 1,114 in Silver[1]
German Cross in Silver, Gold, and with Diamonds. Post-war de-nazified versions below.
Precedence
Next (lower)Iron Cross (1939) 1st Class
Clasp to the Iron Cross, 1st Class
War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords

Eligibility

The German Cross was issued in two versions: gold and silver (the color of the laurel wreath around the swastika). The gold version was awarded to military personnel for repeated acts of bravery in combat, or of military leadership, with 6–8 acts as a rule of thumb.[3] The silver version was awarded for multiple distinguished services in the war effort and was considered a continuation of the War Merit Cross with swords. Where a recipient had been awarded both the silver and gold versions, only the gold version was authorized for wear.[4]

Article three of the law governing the German Cross states that to qualify for the German Cross in gold or silver, the recipient must be a holder of the Iron Cross (1939) 1st Class or Clasp to the 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class, or the War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords.[5] The award of the German Cross was not a prerequisite for the award of the Knight's Cross of either the Iron Cross or War Merit Cross, and the German Cross could be awarded to Knight's Cross holders.[6]

While civilians were not eligible, awards could be made to members of uniformed formations including the police and railway workers.[7]

From 30 August 1944, recipients of the gold class of the Close Combat Clasp were normally also awarded the German Cross in gold, without the need for further justification,[8][9] although the additional award was not made in all cases.[10]

While estimates vary, approximately 24,204 gold and 1,114 silver crosses were awarded.[1][11]

Appearance

The order consists of a star badge, containing a swastika. It had a diameter of 6.5 cm and was worn on the right-hand side of the tunic.[2]

From June 1942 the gold version was officially available in cloth form, for easier wear on the combat uniform.[6] This had the same dimensions as the original decoration, with the wreath circling the swastika, the only metal part of the badge. The backing cloth reflected the arm of service: field grey for the army, or navy dark blue or air force pale blue.[7]

Twenty specimen copies of a special grade, the German Cross in Gold with Diamonds, were manufactured in 1942, but this grade was never formally instituted or bestowed.[7]

1957 version

The wear of Nazi-era decorations was banned in Germany after the war, as was any display of the swastika. In 1957, the Federal Republic of Germany authorized the wear of alternative de-nazified replacement versions of a number of war decorations. These included the German Cross, with the swastika replaced by a representation of the Iron Cross for the gold division, and the War Merit Cross with Swords for the silver division. Qualifying members of the Bundeswehr wore the award on their ribbon bar, represented by a small replica of the decoration on a field grey ribbon.[12]

  •  

    Award certificate: German Cross in Gold to Count Claus von Stauffenberg 8 May 1943

  •  

    Award of a Marine (submarine crew) with the German Cross in Gold (1942)

  •  

    Worn on chest pocket of the field blouse (Captain Alfred Jaedtke, 1944)

  •  

    Cloth version worn on Luftwaffe flight suit (Lieutenant Siegfried Lemke, 1944)

  •  

    Worn on the field uniform by an Oberfeldwebel of the Großdeutschland Division in Central Russia, 1943

  •  

    German Cross in Gold (cloth form)

Recipients

Select recipients of both gold and silver grades included:

Foreign recipients

In October 1942, eligibility for the German Cross in Gold was extended to the armed forces of allied countries on the same basis as awards to German forces.[6]

Select foreign recipients of the German Cross in Gold include:

Belgium
Croatia
Estonia
  • Senior Lieutenant Hando Ruus [et], 30 December 1944
Finland
Italy
Latvia
Romania
Spain

In all, some 26 non-German volunteers of the Waffen-SS from Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Netherlands and Norway received the German Cross in Gold.

Nicknames

Colonel Hans von Luck called it "Hitler's fried egg", in response to its gaudiness.[14] Another name for the decoration was "The Party Reflector for the Near-Sighted" [15]

References

Citations
  1. ^ a b Lumsden 2001, pp. 27–28.
  2. ^ a b Angolia 1976, pp. 327–334.
  3. ^ Note: Littlejohn & Dodkins p 123 says 7–12 further acts.
  4. ^ Littlejohn & Dodkins 1968, pp. 122–124.
  5. ^ Reichsgesetzblatt 1941.
  6. ^ a b c Klietmann 1981, pp. 47–49.
  7. ^ a b c Littlejohn & Dodkins 1968, p. 123.
  8. ^ Klietmann 1981, p. 106.
  9. ^ Michaelis 2008, p. 29.
  10. ^ Williamson 2002, p. 6.
  11. ^ Note: Klietmann page 48 estimates 17,000 gold and 900 silver awards to the army and Waffen-SS alone.
  12. ^ Littlejohn & Dodkins 1968, p. 225.
  13. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 450.
  14. ^ Von Luck 1989.
  15. ^ Fowler 1992.
Bibliography
  • Angolia, John (1976). For Führer and Fatherland: Military Awards of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 0-912138-14-9.
  • Fowler, EWW (1992). Nazi Regalia. Brompton Books Corp. ISBN 1-55521-767-2.
  • Klietmann, Kurt-Gerhard (1981). Auszeichnungen des Deutschen Reiches. 1936–1945, 11 Auflage (in German). Motorbuch, Stuttgart. ISBN 3-87943-689-4.
  • Littlejohn, David; Dodkins, Colonel C. M. (1968). Orders, Decorations, Medals and Badges of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing, California. ISBN 978-0854200801.
  • Lumsden, Robin (2001). Medals and Decorations of Hitler's Germany. Airlife Publishing Ltd, Shrewsbury. ISBN 978-1840371789.
  • Von Luck, Hans (1989). Panzer Commander. Praeger Publishers, New York. ISBN 0-440-20802-5.
  • Maerz, Dietrich (2009). The German Cross in Gold and Silver. B&D Publishing, Richmond, MI. ISBN 978-0-9797969-2-0.
  • Michaelis, Rolf (2008). Deutsche Kriegsauszeichnungen 1939-1945 Heer - Waffen-SS - Polizei (in German). Winkelried Verlag, Leisnig. ISBN 3930849313.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Reichsgesetzblatt (2 October 1941). Teil I S. 593; (PDF). Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, alex.onb.ac.at (in German). Reichsministerium des Inneren (Ministry of the Interior). Retrieved 19 August 2014.
  • Williamson, Gordon (2002). World War II German Battle Insignia. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1841763527.

April 29, 2023
german, cross, confused, with, iron, cross, order, german, kriegsorden, deutsches, kreuz, normally, abbreviated, deutsches, kreuz, instituted, adolf, hitler, september, 1941, awarded, divisions, gold, repeated, acts, bravery, military, leadership, silver, dist. Not to be confused with Iron Cross The War Order of the German Cross German Der Kriegsorden Deutsches Kreuz normally abbreviated to the German Cross or Deutsches Kreuz was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941 It was awarded in two divisions in gold for repeated acts of bravery or military leadership and in silver for distinguished non combat war service The German Cross in Gold ranked higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight s Cross of the Iron Cross while the German Cross in Silver ranked higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight s Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords 2 German CrossDeutsches KreuzGerman Cross in Gold left and Silver right TypeMilitary OrderAwarded forGold for repeated exceptional acts of bravery or troop leadershipSilver for continued distinguished acts of service in the war effortPresented byNazi GermanyEligibilityMilitary personnelCampaign s World War IIStatusObsoleteEstablished28 September 1941Total 24 204 in Gold 1 114 in Silver 1 German Cross in Silver Gold and with Diamonds Post war de nazified versions below PrecedenceNext lower Iron Cross 1939 1st ClassClasp to the Iron Cross 1st ClassWar Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords Contents 1 Eligibility 2 Appearance 2 1 1957 version 3 Recipients 3 1 Foreign recipients 4 Nicknames 5 ReferencesEligibility EditThe German Cross was issued in two versions gold and silver the color of the laurel wreath around the swastika The gold version was awarded to military personnel for repeated acts of bravery in combat or of military leadership with 6 8 acts as a rule of thumb 3 The silver version was awarded for multiple distinguished services in the war effort and was considered a continuation of the War Merit Cross with swords Where a recipient had been awarded both the silver and gold versions only the gold version was authorized for wear 4 Article three of the law governing the German Cross states that to qualify for the German Cross in gold or silver the recipient must be a holder of the Iron Cross 1939 1st Class or Clasp to the 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class or the War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords 5 The award of the German Cross was not a prerequisite for the award of the Knight s Cross of either the Iron Cross or War Merit Cross and the German Cross could be awarded to Knight s Cross holders 6 While civilians were not eligible awards could be made to members of uniformed formations including the police and railway workers 7 From 30 August 1944 recipients of the gold class of the Close Combat Clasp were normally also awarded the German Cross in gold without the need for further justification 8 9 although the additional award was not made in all cases 10 While estimates vary approximately 24 204 gold and 1 114 silver crosses were awarded 1 11 Appearance EditThe order consists of a star badge containing a swastika It had a diameter of 6 5 cm and was worn on the right hand side of the tunic 2 From June 1942 the gold version was officially available in cloth form for easier wear on the combat uniform 6 This had the same dimensions as the original decoration with the wreath circling the swastika the only metal part of the badge The backing cloth reflected the arm of service field grey for the army or navy dark blue or air force pale blue 7 Twenty specimen copies of a special grade the German Cross in Gold with Diamonds were manufactured in 1942 but this grade was never formally instituted or bestowed 7 1957 version Edit The wear of Nazi era decorations was banned in Germany after the war as was any display of the swastika In 1957 the Federal Republic of Germany authorized the wear of alternative de nazified replacement versions of a number of war decorations These included the German Cross with the swastika replaced by a representation of the Iron Cross for the gold division and the War Merit Cross with Swords for the silver division Qualifying members of the Bundeswehr wore the award on their ribbon bar represented by a small replica of the decoration on a field grey ribbon 12 Award certificate German Cross in Gold to Count Claus von Stauffenberg 8 May 1943 Award of a Marine submarine crew with the German Cross in Gold 1942 Worn on chest pocket of the field blouse Captain Alfred Jaedtke 1944 Cloth version worn on Luftwaffe flight suit Lieutenant Siegfried Lemke 1944 Worn on the field uniform by an Oberfeldwebel of the Grossdeutschland Division in Central Russia 1943 German Cross in Gold cloth form Recipients EditSelect recipients of both gold and silver grades included Major Josef Gangl 8 March 1945 gold SS Gruppenfuhrer and Lieutenant General of the Police Odilo Globocnik 7 February 1945 gold amp 20 January 1945 silver SS Standartenfuhrer Rudolf Lange 6th of February 1945 Gold awarded posthumously by Adolf Hitler SS Gruppenfuhrer Bruno Streckenbach 15 December 1943 gold Major General Ernst Merk 11 February 1944 gold amp 6 July 1942 silver SS Standartenfuhrer and Colonel of the Police Walther Rauff 7 February 1945 gold amp 20 May 1943 silver General Felix Schwalbe 7 December 1944 gold amp 30 November 1943 silver Lieutenant General Bodo Zimmermann 25 September 1944 gold amp 15 February 1943 silver SS Hauptsturmfuhrer Alfred Ingemar Berndt 17 July 1943 gold SS Sturmbannfuhrer Wilhelm Mohnke 26 December 1941 gold SS Obersturmbannfuhrer Fritz Knoechlein 15 November 1942 gold Lieutenant General Walter Krupinski 27 August 1942 gold Luftwaffe Major Gunther Specht 25 November 1943 gold 13 Foreign recipients Edit In October 1942 eligibility for the German Cross in Gold was extended to the armed forces of allied countries on the same basis as awards to German forces 6 Select foreign recipients of the German Cross in Gold include BelgiumSS Standartenfuhrer Leon Degrelle 9 October 1944CroatiaLieutenant Cvitan Galic 23 June 1943 1st Lieutenant Mato DukovacEstoniaSenior Lieutenant Hando Ruus et 30 December 1944FinlandGeneral Erik Heinrichs 17 August 1943 Lieutenant General Jarl Lundqvist 9 November 1943 Lieutenant General Karl Lennart Oesch 5 August 1944 SS Obersturmfuhrer Ulf Ola Olin fi 28 February 1945ItalyVice Admiral Luigi Sansonetti 18 January 1942 Marshal Ettore Bastico 5 December 1942 General Enea Navarini 21 December 1942 Colonel General Rino Corso Fougier 18 January 1943LatviaUntersturmfuhrer Karlis Musins Standartenfuhrer Vilis Janums 1 March 1945RomaniaGeneral Gheorghe Avramescu 25 October 1942 Major General Leonard Mociulschi 25 October 1942 Major General Ermil Gheorghiu 11 February 1943 Captain Nicolae Dabija 10 February 1944SpainMajor General Emilio Esteban Infantes y Martin 9 April 1943In all some 26 non German volunteers of the Waffen SS from Belgium Denmark Estonia Finland Hungary Latvia Netherlands and Norway received the German Cross in Gold Nicknames EditColonel Hans von Luck called it Hitler s fried egg in response to its gaudiness 14 Another name for the decoration was The Party Reflector for the Near Sighted 15 References EditCitations a b Lumsden 2001 pp 27 28 a b Angolia 1976 pp 327 334 Note Littlejohn amp Dodkins p 123 says 7 12 further acts Littlejohn amp Dodkins 1968 pp 122 124 Reichsgesetzblatt 1941 a b c Klietmann 1981 pp 47 49 a b c Littlejohn amp Dodkins 1968 p 123 Klietmann 1981 p 106 Michaelis 2008 p 29 Williamson 2002 p 6 Note Klietmann page 48 estimates 17 000 gold and 900 silver awards to the army and Waffen SS alone Littlejohn amp Dodkins 1968 p 225 Patzwall amp Scherzer 2001 p 450 Von Luck 1989 Fowler 1992 BibliographyAngolia John 1976 For Fuhrer and Fatherland Military Awards of the Third Reich R James Bender Publishing ISBN 0 912138 14 9 Fowler EWW 1992 Nazi Regalia Brompton Books Corp ISBN 1 55521 767 2 Klietmann Kurt Gerhard 1981 Auszeichnungen des Deutschen Reiches 1936 1945 11 Auflage in German Motorbuch Stuttgart ISBN 3 87943 689 4 Littlejohn David Dodkins Colonel C M 1968 Orders Decorations Medals and Badges of the Third Reich R James Bender Publishing California ISBN 978 0854200801 Lumsden Robin 2001 Medals and Decorations of Hitler s Germany Airlife Publishing Ltd Shrewsbury ISBN 978 1840371789 Von Luck Hans 1989 Panzer Commander Praeger Publishers New York ISBN 0 440 20802 5 Maerz Dietrich 2009 The German Cross in Gold and Silver B amp D Publishing Richmond MI ISBN 978 0 9797969 2 0 Michaelis Rolf 2008 Deutsche Kriegsauszeichnungen 1939 1945 Heer Waffen SS Polizei in German Winkelried Verlag Leisnig ISBN 3930849313 Patzwall Klaus D Scherzer Veit 2001 Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II The German Cross 1941 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2 in German Norderstedt Germany Verlag Klaus D Patzwall ISBN 978 3 931533 45 8 Reichsgesetzblatt 2 October 1941 Teil I S 593 PDF Osterreichische Nationalbibliothek alex onb ac at in German Reichsministerium des Inneren Ministry of the Interior Retrieved 19 August 2014 Williamson Gordon 2002 World War II German Battle Insignia Osprey Publishing ISBN 1841763527 Portals Military of Germany World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title German Cross amp oldid 1150883030, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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