1813-1870-1914-1939-1957-2003. One Hundred Ninety Years: The Iron Cross

1813-1870-1914-1939-1957-2003

190 Years: The Iron Cross

2003 by Peter Hild
freely translated by Dieter Stenger

On 10 March 2003, the Cross of Iron became 190 years old. In 1996, the Ordensgemeinschaft der Ritterkreuzträger (Association of Knight's Cross Recipients and Traditions Association of the Iron Cross), was organizationally renewed and became, next to the German Armed Forces, the sole inheritors and representatives of past Prussian decorations for valor (to include the 1870 smaller-German[1] and 1939 greater-German[2] decorations).

During the European peace movement of 1811 under Napoleonic rule, Oberst von Gneisenau recommended to the Prussian King, Friedrich Wilhelm III, the establishment of a decoration for valor that embodied a revolutionary spirit. The decoration was to be hung from a black and white Prussian-colored ribbon that could be awarded to brave soldiers of all ranks, over and above staff-noncommissioned officers, officers and generals. Apparantly coined by the Prussian Queen Louise, the slogan, "Es gibt nur eine Tapferkeit" (There is but one bravery), gave tribute to her verasity who convinced the Prussian ruler to enter the Napoleonic Wars as an ally to the Russian Zsar.(3) On 10 March 1813, the Iron Cross was officially adopted in Breslau in holy remembrance and on the birthday of Queen Louise of Prussia.

As a symbol of iron steadfastness that emerged during a period of European turbulence, the well-known artist and building master (Baumeister) Karl Friedrich Schinkel envisioned a 3-grade decoration. The black and white ribbon for the Iron Cross Second Class was to be worn in an upper-uniform button-hole.[4] The Iron Cross First Class was to be worn on the left breast pocket. The Grand Cross (Großkreuz) of the Iron Cross was to be worn as a neck-decoration by military personnel in the highest leadership position.[5] The Iron Cross First Class could only be awarded to individuals that had previously received the Second Class award, whereby the Grand Cross (after 1939 the Knight's Cross) could only be awarded after both lower-grade decorations had been awarded. The recipients of both the Iron Cross First and Second Class were referred to as "Knights of the Iron Cross." Centered on the reverse side on each grade of the equally-balanced black cross are three oakleaves and the year 1813[6] that are contained within a silver frame. A Prussian crown is found in the upper-arm of the cross. Between the crown and oakleaves is the monogram "FW" for Friedrich Wilhelm III.[7] In 1870, a "W" was adopted to the obverse center for Wilhelm I. In 1914, a "W" was adopted for Wilhelm II, and in 1939 the Swastika was adopted as the new state symbol. On the current and longest serving adaptation, the oakleaves and crown were removed from the reverse side (similar to the obverse) of the Iron Cross Second Class, the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Only the numerical designation for the year on both the current and first adaptation of the decoration remained unchanged.

During the war against Denmark in 1864 and the German "brotherly war" against Austria-Hungary in 1866, the Iron Cross was specifically not authorized. Not until the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 was the award reintroduced on 19 July 1870, by the Prussian and later German Kaiser Wilhelm I, in holy memory of his mother's (Queen Louise) 60th day of passing. The first non-Prussian German soldiers were awarded the Iron Cross during the War of 1870-1871. Soldiers from various allied nations who demonstrated auspicious bravery could also receive the Iron Cross as early as the Wars of Independence. By 1813-1815 the Iron Cross Second Class was awarded to a small number of patriotic women who disguised themselves as men in order to stand by their husbands in battle. Eleonore Prochaska (alias Lützower Jäger August Renz), Sophie Krüger (alias August Krüger), Friederike Krüger (alias Musketier Lübeck) and Johanna Stegen are the names of female heroes that were documented into German history.

Nearing the end of World War II between 1944-1945, when every German citizen from each of the various social classes was expected to fight, women too were called to arms. Between 1939-1945, the Iron Cross Second Class was officially bestowed onto approximately 40 women[9]; during the first 5 years of war the majority were awarded to Red Cross nurses at the front. The most well-known recipients were the German Red Cross Nurses (GRCN) Elfriede Wnuk and Use Daub, as well as the pilots Hanna Reitsch and the Jewish Melitta Countess Schenk von Stauffenberg. Hanna Reitsch and the GRCN Else Grossmann were both awarded the Iron Cross First Class. At the outbreak of World War I, the Prussian and German Kaiser Wilhelm II re-introduced the Iron Cross in 1914. The ribbon retained the colors of Prussia, however the highest awards for bravery were made at the regional level and differentiated by way of a ranking system.

During World War II the Iron Cross was further revolutionized whereby the ribbon carried the tri-colors of the Third Reich, black, white, and red. Generally speaking there was no comparably higher award for bravery, other than regional awards that included among others the Pour-le-merite and the golden Cross of Prussia; the Max-Josef Award of Bavaria; the St. Heinrichs Award of Saxony; and the Karl-Friedrich Award of Baden. The regional awards were replaced at the begin of war on 1 Sep 1939 by the neck-award, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The award could equally be bestowed upon all ranks of the enlisted, non-commissioned officers, officers and general grade officers. More enlisted men and non-commissioned officers (23%) were awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross than general grade officers (7%). Until 1944 the decoration was considered a 5-degree cumulative award. The award's fifth degree, golden oakleaves with swords and brilliants to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, was awarded on only one occasion from 1939-1945, similar to that of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross.

Generally speaking, all 5 degrees of the award were recognized as a single award, the Iron Cross.[10] Of the 7,361 Knight's Cross recipients who received the highest German decoration for bravery, 21 were Austrian, 43 were foreigners from allied foreign armed forces,[11] no less than 27 were European foreigners that volunteered and served in the Waffen-SS, and 23 were German Jews! In 1952 the Reichswehrminister (Secretary of War) of the Weimarer Republic, Otto Gefiler, said "Decorations for war and bravery are, and shall remain, honorable; the achievements of each recipient are worth their acknowledgement." By way of the Awards (decorations) Act that was promulgated by Bundespräsident Theodor Heuß on 26 July 1957, the wearing of the Iron Cross and its higher grades was authorized in the Republic of Germany, even after the German loss of World War II. Only the Swastika was removed from the center of the award and replaced with three oakleaves, derived from the Iron Cross of 1813. Even today the Iron Cross can be seen on the combat vehicles and aircraft of the German Bundeswehr as a symbol of German combat ability and bravery.[12]

"Victory or defeat lies in the hands of God; but for Honor we are our own man and King."
Georg Sluyterman von Langeweyde

Published by the Ordensgemeinschaft der Ritterkreuzträger in the quarterly publication "Das Ritterkreuz," 48th Year, No. 1 March 2003.

Notes.

1. Enacted in January 1871 by the Prussian King Wilhelm I in Versailles, the Kaiser-proclamation (as Head of State) of the newly found German Kingdom brought an end to the "state within a state" in Germany.

2. After the annexation of Austria into the German Reich by way of the public vote in March 1938, the combined states assumed the name Großdeutschland (greater Germany).

3. Following Napoleon Bonaparte's victory, the Prussian King reigned over his kingdom through French graciousness. Public allegiance to the French, however, was treasonous in the eyes of the Prussian King.

4. Only on the award day or on the big Ordensschnalle (award buckle) was the Iron Cross Second Class worn on the uniform. Thereafter, only the ribbon was worn.

5. The most recent findings indicate that 8,542 Iron Crosses Second Class were awarded from 1813-1815 (in addition, 7,000 Iron Crosses Second Class were inherited, 369-374 Iron Crosses Second Class were bestowed upon non-combatants, and 7,131 "Kulmer Crosses" were awarded to the Russian allies), 635-668 Iron Cross First Class and 5 Grand Cross of the Iron Cross. In the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871, the Iron Cross Second Class was awarded 40,200 to combatants and 3,050 to non-combatants. The Iron Cross First Class was awarded 1,230 times and the Grand Cross to Iron Cross 9 times. During World War I, between 5.2-5.4 million German soldiers received the Iron Cross Second Class and 200-218,000 were awarded the Iron Cross First Class. The Grand Cross was awarded 4 times, whereas the Blucherstern (Star of Blucher) was awarded on only one occasion. During World War II, the Iron Cross Second Class was awarded 2,3 million times (approximately 18-20 million soldiers served in the German armed forces), and the Iron Cross First Class was awarded to approximately 300,000 soldiers. The Grand Cross was awarded one single time. The special grades of the Iron Cross as the "Knight's Cross" was awarded 7,318 times to members of the German Armed Forces and 43 awards made to allied foreigners. The higher grade of oakleaves were awarded 882 times to members of the to members of the German Armed Forces and 6 to allied foreigners. Swords were awarded 159 times and a single time to a foreigner. Brilliants were awarded 27 times and golden oakleaves on one occasion.

6. As a result of Prussian modesty, the obverse side of the Knight's Cross Second Class the Grand Cross of the Knight's Cross was worn without decorations (blank). Out of sheer pride most recipients wore the award backwards.

7. In this form the reverse side of the Knoght's Cross Second Class and the Grand Cross of the Knigh'ts Cross 1813, 1870, and 1914 remained unchanged. Only the obverse side was changed with respect to the individual authorizations.

8. Russian soldiers in the War of Independence were awarded the "Kulmer Cross" on 7,131 occasions.

9. The names of 32 women are documented. The Iron Cross was awarded to 2 female foreigners, one Wallonian, and one Norwegian. The first award made in 1940 was to Hanna Reitsch, followed by 7 additional awards that were made in 1942. Four of 7 women were decorated posthumously in 1944, and no less than 17 were decorated for valor during the first months in 1945. One recipient was the wife of a past Knight's Cross recipient.

10. The German Cross in Silver and Gold were additional and equally high decorations that recognized conspicuous valor on the battlefield. The highly esteemed German Cross in Gold was awarded twice the number of times as the Knight's Cross. In 1944 the Honor Proclamation Clasp (Ehrenblattspange) was authorized and worn on the ribbon of the Iron Cross Second Class. The German Cross is of a wreath superimposed on a bursting star and worn in the similar fashion as the Blücher Star. The Blücher Star was awarded on 2 occasions, 1813-1815 to Mraschall Gebhard Leberecht Fürst Blücher von Wahlenstatt and 1914-1918 to Generalfeldmarschall Paul von Beneckendorff und von Hindenburg. The 1957 regulations for wearing the German Cross did not change, however the Swastika was replaced with an Iron Cross.

11. Romanians, Italians, Slowaks, Hungarians, Japanese, Spaniards, and Finns.

12. In 1998, the Generalinspektor Hartmut Bagger authorized the change in color to grey. Former East Germany (DDR) retained ideological tradition that were associated with the Iron Cross of 1939, despite the juxtaposition of socialism. The Armed Forces of the KVP and NVA, similar to those of the OBH in Austria or the BGS and BW in West Germany, were reconstructed for the most part by recipients of the Knight's Cross. They were the bravest of the brave! Within the last few years of the former NVA, a future decoration for bravery was planned and to be known as the "Blücher Medal."