German Cross
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| German Cross | |
|---|---|
  German Cross (in Gold) as badge and cloth |
|
| Awarded by Nazi Germany | |
| Type | Badge |
| Eligibility | Military personnel |
| Awarded for | |
| Campaign | World War II |
| Statistics | |
| Established | 16 November 1941 |
The German Cross (German: Deutsches Kreuz) was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 16 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. It was issued in two divisions: gold and silver (the color of the laurel wreath around the swastika), the former being an award for bravery, the latter being for distinguished service and was considered a continuation of the War Merit Cross with swords.
This award was actually more a star than a cross (although one of the German names for the swastika was hakenkreuz, "hooked cross"), and had a rather gaudy design, helping it gain its nicknames as "Hitler's Fried Egg", "patriotic rear reflector" and "Party emblem for the nearsighted". It had a diameter of 6.5 cm and was worn on the righthand pocket of the tunic. If a recipient was awarded both the silver and gold divisions, both of them could be worn on the uniform.
This award was also available in cloth form, which made for easier wear on the combat uniform; Helmuth Weidling wore this variety during his defense of Berlin in April-May 1945. Far more awards in gold (combat) were made than in silver (support).
The cross title refers to the fact that the swastika is a cross, a sun-cross.
[edit] References
For Führer And Fatherland: Military Awards of the Third Reich by LTC John R. Angolia. 1976 R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 0-912138-14-9
