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DDR | SOCIALISM |
Nostalgia | DDR Guhr communism propaganda political propaganda Moscow
GDR USSR political history NVA Nostalgia Zone East Zone East Berlin,
East Germany Criminal complaints Stasi Stasi KGB kgb sed people's police
stooges SBZ zone of occupation SMI border troops general strike
People's Republic of border police and National People's Army Wall Front
Berlin - Tunnelling Honecker era demise self-exposure MdI Ministry of
the Interior Dresden NVA VPKA consumption Stasi Wandlitz Comrade
Department in unofficial member state hostile to IMF Captain Major
Colonel exit Dessidentin Dess Ident spy monitoring report conspiratorial
FDJ HO FDGB DTSB DSF GST battle groups young pioneer pioneer Centrum
department store GENEX FORUM Centrum use military Verlag Fritz Heckert
MS LSK LV Ostmark VP German People's Police official use , Police, VP,
public policy, Socialism, East Germany, White Mouse, ABV, limit,
forensics, criminal investigation department ata immi blue strangler
ossi NVA - GST - VP - Volkspolizei DDR FFW Ostalgie KONVOLUT 100 %
Original ! Viele DDR Orden / Ehrenzeichen Bilder DDR | SOZIALISMUS |
OSTALGIE | DDR Guhr Kommunismus Propaganda Politpropaganda Moskau DDR
UDSSR Politikgeschichte NVA Nostalgie Zone Ostzone Ostberlin
Ostdeutschland Strafantrag Stasi Staatssicherheit KGB kgb sed
Volkspolizei Handlanger SBZ Besatzungszone SMI Grenztruppen
Generalstreik Volksrepublik Grenzpolizei und Nationale Volksarmee
Mauerbau Frontstadt Berlin - Tunnelbau Ära Honecker Untergang
Selbstentlarvung MdI Ministerium des Innern Dresden NVA VPKA Konsum MfS
Wandlitz Genosse Hauptabteilung IM inoffizielles Mitglied
Staatsfeindlich Opposition IMB Hauptmann Major Oberst Ausreise
Dessidentin Dessident Spitzel Beobachtungsbericht konspirativ FDJ HO
FDGB DTSB DSF GST Kampfgruppen Jungpionier Pionier Centrumwarenhaus
GENEX FORUM Centrum Konsum Militärverlag Fritz Heckert MS LSK LV Ostmark
VP Deutsche Volkspolizei Dienstgebrauch,Polizei, VP, Ordnung,
Sozialismus, DDR, Weisse Maus, ABV, Grenze, Kriminaltechnik, Kripo ata
immi blauer würger ossi Allgemeine & Waffen-SS SS-HAUPTSTURMFÜHRER?S
SERVICE UNIFORM GROUP S029160 SIGNALS SS-OBERSTURM FÜHRER'S GREATCOAT
SIGNALS, SS-UNTERSTURM FÜHRER'S OVERCOAT PIPED ADMINISTRATIVE STANDARTEN
SERVICE TUNIC EM/NCO'S M43 FIELD BLOUSE ROTTENFÜHRER'S TROPICAL
SAHARIANA Offizer M40 M41 M41 SMG Sight Visor Cap Hitler Youth HJ WK1
WK2 WW2 WW1 WWII WWI WORLD WAR TWO ONE Double IRON CROSS DATED Decal
Helmet Cover Camo Camoflage WAFFEN RECRUITMENT POSTER FLEMISH PHOTO
EXHIBITION ALBUM 82ND 101ST 47TH REGIMENT COMMEMORATIVE MARCH EVENT
BADGE NORWEGIAN FRONT LINE SOLDIERS 1800s 1900s 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904
1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918
1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932
1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946
1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 SS
GROUP FRANKFURT MAIN WEST COMMEMORATIVE MARCH BADGE 4TH SS
MOTOR-REGIMENT EVENT TABLE MEDALLION TWELVE YEAR LONG SERVICE MEDAL
BELGIAN FLEMISH-SS SPONSORING MEMBER'S LAPEL PIN CASED 24TH SPORTS
COMPETITION TABLE MEDALLION SQUADRON RALLY WALL PLAQUE DIVISION SQUAD SS
OFFICER'S SWORD WITH PORTEPEE SENIOR NCO'S SWORD WITH M36 CHAINED
SERVICE DAGGER WITH PORTEPEE DAGGER HANGER EM'S BAYONET TRODDEL KNOT
holder scabbard sheath pommel ADLER eagle Nazi cross symbol markings
stamp webbing liner clip gun ammo machine magazine very rare collectable
collectible antique carved silver gold old bunker coastal defense
pillbox pill box loft find attic garage relic ground normandy france
battle fight star panzer tank SS-Obersturmbannführer SIGNALE FÜHRERS
Mantel SIGNALE, SS-UNTERSTURM FÜHRERS MANTEL verrohrt
VERWALTUNGSINFORMATIONEN Standartenführer SERVICE TUNIKA EM / NCO 'S M43
Feldbluse Rottenführer tropischen Sahariana Offizer M40 M41 M41 SMG
Sight Schirmmütze Hitlerjugend HJ WK1 WK2 WW2 WWII WW1 WWI WELT KRIEG
ZWEI EINS Double Decal Helmet Cover Camo Camouflage WAFFEN EINSTELLUNG
POSTER FLÄMISCHE PHOTO AUSSTELLUNG ALBUM 82. 101ST 47. REGIMENTS
Gedenkmarsch EVENT BADGE NORWEGIAN FRONT LINE SOLDATEN 1800er 1900er
MOTOR-Regiment EVENT TABELLE MEDAILLON zwölf Jahre Dienstauszeichnung
der Wehrmacht Flämische-SS Fördermitglied'S Anstecknadel CASED 24TH
sportlichen Wettkampf TABELLE A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V
W X Y Z WK MEDAILLON SQUADRON RALLY WALL PLAQUE DIVISION SQUAD
SS-Offizier das Tag Schwert mit Portepee SENIOR NCO Schwert mit M36
CHAINED SERVICE Dolch mit Portepee DAGGER HANGER EM BAYONET TRODDEL KNOT
Inhaber Scheide Scheide Knauf ADLER Adler Nazi Kreuz-Symbol
Markierungen Stempel Gurtband Liner Clip Waffe Munition Maschine Magazin
sehr seltene Sammlerstücke Sammlerstücke antike geschnitzte Silber Gold
alten Bunker Küstenschutz Pillendose swaztika swastika Pillendose
Dachboden finden Dachgeschoss Garage Relikt Boden Normandie Frankreich
Schlacht kämpfen Sterne WELTKRIEG WEHRMACHT S0 TK SOLDBUCH &
WEHRPASS PZ Gren Ausb u Ers Btl 12TH SS Pz Div HITLERJUGEND MEMBER?S
SOLDBUCH IDENTIFICATION CARD Mountain Troop Signals PROMOTIONAL DOCUMENT
CLOTHING ISSUE CERTIFICATE DRIVER'S LICENCE & ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS
STAMMKARTE Gren. Ausb. u. Ers. Btl. 17 Stammkp CONFIDENTIALITY
OBLIGATION DOCUMENT RECOMMENDATION SERVICE CERTIFICATE FOR THE NSDAP
VACATION- BUSINESS TRIP" FORM INTERDEPARTMENTAL PERSONNEL FILE
AUTHORIZATION DOCUMENT FROM REICHSFÜHRER-SS HEINRICH HIMMLER MAJOR
CATALOGUE SECTION LINKS ADOLF GOERING SUPER ORIGINAL LUFFT COMPASS
SCHARFÜHRER?S PHOTOGRAPH MANN'S FRAMED PHOTOGRAPH PROPAGANDA PRESS
PHOTOGRAPHS SCHÜTZE AIR FORCE FLIGHT INFANTRY SAILOR MERCHANT STURMBANN
"REICHS- PARTEITAG NÜRNBERG 1934" ARTWORK POSTCARD ZUM GEDENKEN DES 9.
NOVEMBER 1923" ARTWORK POSTCARD BULARIA JAHRBUCH 1942 "HIMMLER
SIGNATURE" B00K WAFFEN-SS/HJ RECRUITMENT ARTWORK POSTCARD RECRUITMENT
ARTWORK POSTCARD 019663 "DIE HITLER GEBURTSTAGSFEIER DER REICHS
HAUPTSTADT" PROGRAM DICH RUFT DIE NORWEGIAN VOLUNTEER'S "NORDLANDIR"
PROPAGANDA MAGAZINE ISSUED COMBAT ENGINEER?S SERVICE MANUAL DUTCH
AUFBRUCH BRIEFE GERMANISCHER KRIEGSFREIVILLIGER STORM TEGEN HET
BOLSJEWISME IM WESTEN DEUTSCHES VOLFSBUCH DER TOD AND DER GRENZE
KRIEGSGLIEDERUNG STORM DAS SCHWARZ KORPS NEWSPAPER. Legion tabacco mess
tin kitchen set complete lot bulk bundle lots huge big grand gaiters gog
tag bullet shell 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 lb pounder 4mm 5mm 6mm 7mm 8mm 9mm 10mm 11mm
12mm 14mm 20mm 25mm 30mm 40mm 50mm 60mm KRIEGSMARINE NARVIK CAMPAIGN
SHIELD HIGH SEAS FLEET WAR BADGE "Bacqueville" DESTROYER WAR BADGE
Schwerin Josef Feix Söhne SEAS FLEET WAR BADGE "Friedrich Orth" NARVIK
CAMPAIGN SHIELD COASTAL ARTILLERY WAR BADGE, 1941 "C. E. Junker" "Rudolf
Souval" BLOCKADE RUNNER'S BADGE "Schwerin" MINESWEEPER'S WAR BADGE
"Richard Simm & Söhne" swastika AWARD DOCUMENT ADMINISTRATION
OBERLEUTNANT'S REEFER REICHSMARINE EM/NCO'S BELT BUCKLE leather tab
holster POWER BINOCULARS WITH PROTECTIVE LENS COVER flag pennant wimpel
saber frog WAFFEN-SS, HEER, KRIEGSMARINE, LUFTWAFFE, POLITICAL AND
CIVIL, IMPERIAL GERMAN RICHFEST R.L.M. BERLIN BADGE OUTSTANDING
ACHIEVEMENT IN Schöner patriotischer Brieföffner mit EK Der Brieföffner
wurde aus einem Granatsplitter gefertigt Das EK trägt mittig ein W und
im unteren Kreuzarm die Jahreszahl Schönes und sehr seltenes Stück in
einem gebrauchten, aber noch sammelwürdigen Erhaltungszustand.THE
TECHNICAL BRANCH OF THE AIR-FORCE MEDALLION MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT IN
AIR DISTRICT HERMANN GORING FEMALE AUXILIARIES CIVILIAN PIN
COMMEMORATIVE shoulder strap arm band ENGINEER MAJOR'S SHOULDER BOARD
SIGNALS LEUTNANT'S Trench Art Artillery Shell Splinter / Shrapnel Shard
Iron Cross Letter Opener UNTEROFFIZIER'S CONSTRUCTION EM?S REICHSCHULE
FÜR LUFTAUFSICHT FLAK ARTILLERY EM'S SHIRT OFFIZIER'S Third Reich
fledgling Luftwaffe Regulations DLV DEUTSCHER LUFTSPORTVERBAND
RLB/SHD/LSW REICHLUFTSCHUTZBUND SICHERHEITS-U. HILFDIENST LUFTSCHUTZ
WARNDIENST gas gasmask ration mask v1 v2 rocket air combat tank. rocket
launcher bazooka knife dagger game boxed Gas Gasmaske Ration Maske v1 v2
Rakete Luft Kampfpanzer. Raketenwerfer Panzerfaust Messer Dolch Spiel
diary album collection personal Tagebuch Album Sammlung
personenbezogener. air force, army, force, marines, navy, service,
servicepeople, soldiery, troop ARP A.R.P. Home Front Fire Patrol Special
Air Raid Siren Water Police Pump Driver R.A.M.C. shillings sixpence old
vintage scarce rare britich AA legion navy seal paratrooper Home of the
81st TFW EISENHOWER EAGLE, WINSTON CHURCHILL , MATILDA, SHERMAN
BREWSTER BUFFALO Brize NortonPhantom Embassy Commander Commando Command
Colonel Major SQN N.A.A.F.I. E.N.S.A NAFFI ENSA CEO NCO DEUTSCHE
REICHSBAHN ARMY SURPLUS DPM PLCE IRR DOUBLE AMMO POUCH-SAS/PARA webbing
set yoke utility A-A. FWN. ForewomanQMAAC A-CLY. TIND. Acting Cooly
Tindal IRAQA -FWN. Acting Forewoman QMAAC A-N. SISTER Nursing Sister EA
A-P. CPL Acting Provost Corporal RHOD A-SURG Acting Surgeon (3rd Class)
IAA-U. ADTR Assistant Under Administrator A.A. ENGR. Acting Artificer
Engineer RNA. ADTR. Assistant Administrator A.B. Able Seaman RN A. BMBR.
Acting Bombardier A.C.Armourer's Crew RN A.C. CTR. Chief Controller
A.C.Q.M. SGT Acting Company Quarter Master Sergeant BA A.C. SGT. Acting
Colour Serjeant BA A. COMM. Commissary IA A. CPL. Acting Corporal BA
A.D. COMM. Deputy Commissary UG A. FWN. Assistant Forewoman A. INSPR.
Inspector EA A.L. CPL. Acting Lance Corporal CAN A.L.D. Acting Lance
Dafadar IA A.L/DFD Acting Lance Dafadar IA A.M.1. Air Mechanic 1st Class
RAF A.M.1. Air Mechanic 1st Class RNAS A.M. GR.1. Air Mechanic Grade 1
RNAS A. NAICK. Acting Naik HKSRGA A. NAIK Acting Naik IA A.S.M. Station
Master IA A.S. SJT Acting Staff Serjeant BA A. SGT. Acting Serjeant BA
A. SJT Acting Serjeant BA A. SN. MR. Acting Station Master IA A. SUPDT.
Acting Superintendant A. TRSR. Assistant Treasurer SOM A.W.O. CL.2.
Acting Warrant BA A/S. Q.M. SJT Acting Squadron Quarter Master Serjeant
AUS ABDAR Abdar IA ACCT. & TR. Accountant & Treasurer ACT.
A.M.1. Acting Air Mechanic 1st Class RNAS ACT. AR. MT. RN ACT. ARMR.
Acting Armourer ACT. C.M.M. Acting Chief Motor Mechanic RNVR ACT. CH.
ARM. Acting Chief Armourer RN ACT.E.R.A. Acting Engine Room Artificer
ACT.L.S. Acting Leading Seaman ACT. L. STO. Acting Leading Stoker RN
ACT. S.P.O. Stoker Petty AD. SVT. Admirals Servant RN ADJ Adjutant SA
Admiral RN AGENT Agent EA AMB. HVLDR. Ambulance Havildar AMT. Q.M. SJT.
Armament Quarter Master Serjeant BA AMT. S. MJR. Armament Serjeant
Major BA APPCE. Apprentice MFA AR. CR. Armourers Crew RN AR. MTE. Mate
ARB. Labourer SA ARMR Armourer RNARMR.Armourer SOM ARMR. S. MJR.
Armourer Serjeant Major BSAP ART. ENG. Artificer Engineer ART. HVLDR.
Artificer Havildar IA ARTFR. Artificer BA ASST. Assistant RN ASST.
BUTCHER Butcher CK Cook. FRN. Assistant Foreman MFA ASST. KEL. Assistant
Steward SA ASST. LNDRYMAN Laundryman. PAYR. Paymaster RN ASST. SGN.
Assistant Surgeon HK ASST. SGN. Assistant Surgeon HK ASST. STD Steward
MFA ASST. TD. Assistant Steward RNASST. STO. Assistant Stoker RN ASST.
SURGN.Surgeon EA AUDITOR Auditor EA Origin B'SUN Boatswain B.
AMIN.C.Q.M.S. EGY B. ART Boy Artificer B. BUGR. Boy Bugler RMLI CK. Boy
Cook RNR B.K.M.S. Battery Quarter Master Serjeant SA B.Q.M. SJT. Battery
Quarter Master Serjeant BA B.S. MATE Blacksmiths Mate RNB.S. MJR.
Battery Serjeant Major BA B. SHAWISH Bash Shawish EGY B. SMITH
BlacksmithIA B. SVT.Boy Servant RN B. TEL. Boy Telegraphist RN BALTAGI
Pioneer EA BANDMASTER Bandmaster BA BAR TDR. Bar Tender MFA BARBER
Barber IA BD. CPL Band Corporal RN BDN. Bandsman RN BDR Bombardier SA
BDR. Bombardier AUS BDSM Bandsman BA BED. STD. Bedroom Steward MFA BGE.
TIND. Barge Tindal BGLR. Bugler BA BHDY. Bhandary BHISTI Bhisti IA
BIMBASHI Major EGY BK. S. MJR.Barrack Serjeant Major BA BKR. Baker MFA
BLK. Blacksmith RN BLKS. MTE. Blacksmith's Mate BLKSTH. Blacksmith SA
BLRMKR. Boilermaker BLYR. Bricklayer BMBR Bombardier BA BMKR.
Boilermaker MFA BNDSMN BA BNDSMN Bandsman RN BOAT HD.Boat Hand BOATSN
BOSN.Boatswain BOY. SIG. Boy Signaller BOY. TEL. Boy Telegraphist BOY 1
Boy 1st Class RN BR Bearer IA BRIG. Brigadier BA BRIG. GEN. Brigadier
General BA BRUGL Bugler EGY BUG. Bugler EA BUGLR. Bugler BURG Burger SA
BURG. WERKER Civilian Worker SA Butcher OF. H. Corporal of Horse BA C.
CENSOR Cable Censor EA C. CTR. Chief Controller QMAAC C. DFDR. MJR.
Queen Mary's Own Baluchistan Light Infantry IA C. DVR.Crane Driver
C.E.A. Chief Electrical Artificer RNC.E.R.A. Chief Engine Room Artificer
C. HAVR. Company Havildar IA C. HVLDR Colour Havildar IA C. HVLDR.
MJR.Company Havildar Major C.M.M. Chief Motor Mechanic RNVR C.M.
STKPR.Chief Medical Storekeeper C. MISTRI Camp Mistri C.P.O. Chief
Petty Officer RN C.P.O. MECH Petty Officer Mechanic RNAS C.P.O. WR.
Petty Officer Writer RN C.Q.M. HVLDR. Company Quarter Master havildar
C.Q.M.S. Company Quarter Master Serjeant BA C.Q.M. SJT. Company Quarter
Master Serjeant BA C.S. MJR. Company Serjeant Major BA C.S. MJR.
Company Serjeant Major C. SJT. Colour Serjeant BA C. SMITH Copper C.Y.S.
Chief Yeoman of Signals SUPDT. Camp Superintendant
The Iron Cross
(German: Eisernes Kreuz) was a military decoration of the Kingdom of
Prussia, and later of Germany, which was established by King Friedrich
Wilhelm III of Prussia and first awarded on 10 March 1813 in Breslau. In
addition to during the Napoleonic Wars, the Iron Cross was awarded
during the Franco-German War, the First World War, and the Second World
War. The Iron Cross was normally a military decoration only, though
there were instances of it being awarded to civilians for performing
military functions. Two examples, the civilian pilot Hanna Reitsch was
awarded the Iron Cross First Class for her bravery as a test pilot
during the Second World War and Melitta Schenk Gräfin von Stauffenberg
(also a German female test pilot) was awarded the Iron Cross Second
Class. The Iron Cross was also used as the symbol of the German Army
from 1871 to 1915, when it was replaced by a simpler Greek cross. In
1956, the Iron Cross became the symbol of the Bundeswehr, the German
armed forces. The traditional design is black and this design is used on
armored vehicles and aircraft. A newer design in blue and silver is
used as the emblem in other contexts. The Iron Cross is a black
four-pointed cross with white trim, with the arms widening towards the
ends, similar to a cross pattée. It was designed by the neoclassical
architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel and reflects the cross borne by the
Teutonic Knights in the 14th century. The ribbon for the 1813, 1870 and
1914 Iron Cross (2nd Class) was black with two thin white bands, the
colours of Prussia. The noncombatant version of this award had the same
medal, but the black and white colours on the ribbon were reversed.
Initially the Iron Cross was worn with the blank side out. This did not
change until 1838 when the sprig facing could be presented. Since the
Iron Cross was issued over several different periods of German history,
it was annotated with the year indicating the era in which it was
issued. For example, an Iron Cross from the First World War bears the
year "1914", while the same decoration from the Second World War is
annotated "1939". The reverse of the 1870, 1914 and 1939 series of Iron
Crosses have the year "1813" appearing on the lower arm, symbolizing the
year the award was created. The 1813 decoration also has the initials
"FW" for King Frederick William III, while the next two have a "W" for
the respective kaisers, Wilhelm I and Wilhelm II. The final version
shows a swastika. It was also possible for a holder of the 1914 Iron
Cross to be awarded a second or higher grade of the 1939 Iron Cross. In
such cases, a "1939 Clasp" (Spange) would be worn on the original 1914
Iron Cross. (A similar award was made in 1914 but was quite rare, since
there were few in service who held the 1870 Iron Cross.) For the First
Class award the Spange appears as an eagle with the date "1939" that was
pinned above the Cross. Although two separate awards, in some cases the
holders soldered them together. A cross was the symbol of the Teutonic
Knights (a heraldic cross pattée), and the cross design (but not the
specific decoration) has been the symbol of Germany's armed forces (now
the Bundeswehr) since 1871. The Iron Cross was founded on 10 March 1813
in Breslau and awarded to soldiers during the Wars of Liberation against
Napoleon. It was first awarded to Karl August Ferdinand von Borcke on
21 April 1813. King Wilhelm I of Prussia authorized further awards on 19
July 1870, during the Franco-German War. Recipients of the 1870 Iron
Cross who were still in service in 1895 were authorized to purchase a
25-year clasp consisting of the numerals "25" on three oak leaves. The
Iron Cross was reauthorized by Emperor Wilhelm II on 5 August 1914, at
the start of the First World War. During these three periods, the Iron
Cross was an award of the Kingdom of Prussia, although given Prussia's
pre-eminent place in the German Empire formed in 1871, it tended to be
treated as a generic German decoration. The 1813, 1870, and 1914 Iron
Crosses had three grades: Iron Cross 2nd Class (German: Eisernes Kreuz
2. Klasse), Iron Cross 1st Class (German: Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse),
Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes,
often simply Großkreuz). Although the medals of each class were
identical, the manner in which each was worn differed. Employing a pin
or screw posts on the back of the medal, the Iron Cross First Class was
worn on the left side of the recipient's uniform. The Grand Cross and
the Iron Cross Second Class were suspended from different ribbons. The
Grand Cross was intended for senior generals of the German Army. An even
higher decoration, the Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, was
awarded only twice, to Field Marshal Gebhard von Blücher in 1813 and to
Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg in 1918. A third award was planned for
the most successful German general during the Second World War, but was
not made after the defeat of Germany in 1945. The Iron Cross 1st Class
and the Iron Cross 2nd Class were awarded without regard to rank. One
had to already possess the 2nd Class in order to receive the 1st Class
(though in some cases both could be awarded simultaneously). The
egalitarian nature of this award contrasted with those of most other
German states (and indeed many other European monarchies), where
military decorations were awarded based on the rank of the recipient.
For example, Bavarian officers received various grades of that Kingdom's
Military Merit Order (Militär-Verdienstorden), while enlisted men
received various grades of the Military Merit Cross
(Militär-Verdienstkreuz). Prussia did have other orders and medals which
were awarded on the basis of rank, and even though the Iron Cross was
intended to be awarded without regard to rank, officers and NCOs were
more likely to receive it than junior enlisted soldiers. In the First
World War, approximately four million Iron Crosses of the lower grade
(2nd Class) were issued, as well as around 145,000 of the higher grade
(1st Class). Exact numbers of awards are not known, since the Prussian
archives were destroyed during the Second World War. The multitude of
awards reduced the status and reputation of the decoration. Among the
holders of the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class and 1st Class was Adolf Hitler,
who held the rank of Gefreiter. Hitler can be seen wearing the award on
his left breast, as was standard, in many photographs. The
straight-armed Balkenkreuz, the emblem of the Wehrmacht, first used in a
narrower form on Luftstreitkräfte aircraft in mid-April 1918, and as
shown here, a DAVID KIRCH AUCTION FROM THE ONLY ONE ON s it appeared on
German planes, tanks, and other vehicles during the Second World War.
Adolf Hitler restored the Iron Cross in 1939 as a German decoration
(rather than Prussian as in earlier versions), continuing the tradition
of issuing it in various grades. Legally it is based on the enactment
(Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573) of 1 September 1939 Verordnung über die
Erneuerung des Eisernen Kreuzes (Regulation for the Re-introduction of
the Iron Cross). The Iron Cross of the Second World War was divided into
three main series of decorations with an intermediate category, the
Knight's Cross, instituted between the lowest, the Iron Cross, and the
highest, the Grand Cross. The Knight's Cross replaced the Prussian Pour
le Mérite or "Blue Max". Hitler did not care for the Pour le Mérite, as
it was a Prussian order that could be awarded only to officers. The
ribbon of the medal (2nd class and Knight's Cross) was different from
the earlier Iron Crosses in that the color red was used in addition to
the traditional black and white (black and white were the colours of
Prussia, while black, white, and red were the colors of Germany). Hitler
also created the War Merit Cross as a replacement for the non-combatant
version of the Iron Cross. It also appeared on certain Nazi flags in
the upper left corner. The edges were curved, like most original iron
crosses. The standard 1939 Iron Cross was issued in the following two
grades: Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse), Iron Cross 1st
Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse) (abbreviated as EKI or E.K.I.). The
Iron Cross was awarded for bravery in battle as well as other military
contributions in a battlefield environment. The Iron Cross 2nd Class
came with a ribbon and was worn in one of two different methods: when in
formal dress, the entire cross was worn mounted alone or as part of a
medal bar, for everyday wear, only the ribbon was worn from the second
hole in the tunic button. The Iron Cross First Class was a pin-on medal
with no ribbon and was worn centered on a uniform breast pocket, either
on dress uniforms or everyday outfit. It was a progressive award, with
the second class having to be earned before the first class and so on
for the higher degrees. It is estimated that some four and a half
million Second Class Iron Crosses were awarded in the Second World War,
and 300,000 of the First Class#. Two Iron Cross First Class recipients
were women, one of whom was test pilot Hanna Reitsch. One of the Muslim
SS members to receive the award was SS Obersturmführer Imam Halim
Malko?, and was granted the Iron Cross (Second Class) in October 1943
for his role in suppressing the Villefranche-de-Rouergue mutiny. He and
several other Bosnian Muslims were decorated with the EK. II personally
by Himmler in the days after the mutiny. Interestingly, he would only
wear the ribbon, and not the cross itself because of his faith. The
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes,
often simply Ritterkreuz) recognized extreme battlefield bravery or
successful leadership. The Knight's Cross was divided into five degrees:
Knight's Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), Knight's Cross with
Oak Leaves (mit Eichenlaub), Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
(mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern), Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords,
and Diamonds (mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten), Knight's
Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (mit Goldenem
Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten). In total, 7,313 awards of the
Knight's Cross were made. Only 883 received the Oak Leaves; 160 both the
Oak Leaves and Swords (including Japanese Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
(posthumously); 27 with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds; and one with
the Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (Oberst Hans-Ulrich Rudel).
Recipients of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds:
(pilots) Colonel (Oberst) Werner Mölders (15 July 1941),
Lieutenant General (Generalleutnant) Adolf Galland (28 February 1942),
Colonel (Oberst) Gordon M. Gollob (3 August 1942), Captain (Hauptmann)
Hans-Joachim Marseille (3 September 1942), Colonel (Oberst) Helmut Lent
(7 July 1944), Major Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer (14 October 1944), Major
Walter Nowotny (19 October 1943), Colonel (Oberst) Hans-Ulrich Rudel
(Diamonds: 29 March 1944, Golden Oak Leaves: 1 January 1945), Major
Erich Hartmann (8 August 1944), Colonel (Oberst) Hermann Graf (16
September 1942). Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring never held the Diamonds.
He, being one of the first soldiers presented with the Knight's Cross
in 1939, was presented with the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross in 1940.
Submarine captains of the German Navy (Kriegsmarine): Captain (Kapitän
zur See) Wolfgang Lüth (11 August 1943), Commander (Fregattenkapitän)
Albrecht Brandi (21 November 1944). General Field Marshals
(Generalfeldmarschälle): Erwin Rommel (11 March 1943), Albert Kesselring
(19 July 1944), Walter Model (17 August 1944), Ferdinand Schörner (1
January 1945). Generals and state officials: Brig. General
(Generalmajor) Adelbert Schulz (9 January 1944), Waffen-SS Lt. General
(SS-Obergruppenführer) Herbert Otto Gille (19 September 1944), Waffen-SS
Brig. General (SS-Brigadeführer) Sylvester Stadler (6 May 1945), Lt.
General (General der Fallschirmtruppe) Hermann-Bernhard Ramcke (19
September 1944), Maj. General (Generalleutnant) Theodor
Tolsdorff (18 March 1945), Maj. General (Generalleutnant) Dr. Karl
Mauss, DDS (15 April 1945), Lt. General (General der Panzertruppe)
Dietrich von Saucken (8 May 1945), Lt. General (General der
Panzertruppe) Hermann Balck (31 August 1944), Lt. General (General der
Panzertruppe) Hasso von Manteuffel (18 February 1945), Maj. General
(Generalleutnant) Hyazinth Graf Strachwitz (15 April 1944), Waffen-SS
General (SS-Oberstgruppenführer) Sepp Dietrich (6 August 1944), General
(Generaloberst) Hans-Valentin Hube (20 April 1944). Like the Knight's
Cross, the Grand Cross (Großkreuz) was also worn suspended from the
collar. The only recipient of the Grand Cross during the Second World
War was Reichsmarschall, or "Reich Marshal of the Greater German Reich,"
Hermann Göring, who was awarded the decoration on 19 July 1940. The
medal is in effect an oversized Knight's Cross. It had the same overall
characteristics as the Knights Cross but was much larger, measuring 63
mm (2.5 in) wide as opposed to about 44 mm (1.7 in) for the Iron Cross
and 48.5 mm (1.9 in) for the Knight's Cross. It was originally intended
to have outer edges lined in gold, but this was changed to silver before
the award was presented. The Grand Cross was worn with a 57 mm (2.2
in)-wide ribbon bearing the same colours as the Knights Cross and 2nd
Class ribbons. The award case was in red leather with the eagle and the
swastika outlined in gold. The Grand Cross was not a bravery award. It
was reserved solely for General Staff officers for "the most outstanding
strategic decisions affecting the course of the war". Göring received
the Grand Cross for his command of the Luftwaffe during the successful
1940 campaigns against France, Belgium, and the Netherlands (at the same
time as he was promoted to Reichsmarschall of the Greater German
Reich). The original Grand Cross that was presented to Göring
(personally by Hitler) was destroyed during an air raid on his Berlin
home. Göring had extra copies made, one of them with a platinum frame
that he was wearing at the time of his surrender to the allies in 1945.
Several times in official photographs, Göring can be seen wearing his
Pour le Mérite, Knights Cross, and Grand Cross around his neck at the
same time. The Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (also called
Iron Cross with Golden Rays) was meant to be worn like the Iron Cross
First class (pinned to the breast). Like the Grand Cross of the Iron
Cross, this award was not intended to be bestowed for bravery. Rather,
it was bestowed upon the most successful General officer at the
conclusion of a war. The first Star of the Grand Cross was presented to
Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher for defeating Napoleon in the Battle of
Waterloo, 1815. That medal is called the Blücherstern (Blücher's Star).
The second version of the Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross was
presented to Paul von Hindenburg for the German victories over the
British in the German offensives in March and April 1918. (See Spring
Offensive.) A Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross was manufactured
for the Second World War, but it was never awarded. The only known
example was found by Allied occupation forces at the end of the war, and
was eventually added to the West Point military collection. It is
generally believed that Reichsmarschall Göring was the intended eventual
recipient. The design was based on the 1914 version of the Star of the
Grand Cross, but with the 1939 Iron Cross as the centerpiece. German law
prohibits the wearing of a swastika, so in 1957 the West German
government authorised replacement Iron Crosses with an Oak Leaf Cluster
in place of the swastika, similar to the Iron Crosses of 1813, 1870, and
1914, which could be worn by World War II Iron Cross recipients. The
1957 law also authorised de-Nazified versions of most other World War
II?era decorations (except those specifically associated with Nazi Party
organizations, such as SS Long Service medals, or with the expansion of
the German Reich, such as the medals for the annexation of Austria, the
Sudetenland, and the Memel region).