German Cross
Though there was a
great variety of awards introduced since the beginning of Word War II,
Hitler felt that there was a need to bridge the significant gap that
existed between the Iron Cross 1st Class and the Knights Cross. On
September 28, 1941, the War Order of the German Cross (der Kriegsorden
des Deutschen Kreuzes) was created to fill such a roll. The award was
introduced at a time when the conquests of the Third Reich were at a
peak, though cracks in the armor would soon begin to appear with the
failure to take Moscow. The medal would continue to decorate German men
at arms through to Germanys' ultimate defeat and beyond, having been
reissued in 1957 in its final denazified form.
The German Cross was designed by Professor Klein of Munich, and
receives its Order and Cross title because the swastika is
technically a cross, though the award does not in the least resemble a
traditional cross as we mostly think of one. It was instituted in two
divisions; the German Cross in Gold was to be presented for Military
bravery in the face of the enemy while the Silver Cross was awarded for
leadership not directly involving combat operations. In this way the
Gold Cross was associated with the Iron Cross, and it had a prerequisite
of an Iron Cross 1st Class while the Silver division was closely related
to the War Merit Cross, and the 1st Class of that award was needed in
order to receive it. It must be clear that, though the German Cross had
a close relationship with both these decorations it belonged to neither
one, nor was it a stepping stone between the 1st Class and the Knights
Cross. It was a completely independent award, many who received the
German Cross never got the Knights Cross while there were Knights Cross
winners who never received the German Cross. |
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