FROM:    KEITH HEITMANN   (GVXV90A)

A brief history of the medals of Germany

The Iron Cross
The Iron Cross is the best known German war medal and has
become the symbol of the German military. This famous award
was established in March, 1813 by the King of Prussia,
Wilhelm III. The basic model ws the Cross of the Order of
German, or Teutonic, Knights--crusaders who fought the
Saracens in the Middle Ages. Wilhelm orderd the famous
Prussian architect Schinckel to design a medal fo simplicity
and beauty. The Iron Cross did not recognize rank, and
anyone in the armed forces could earn it.
During the Franco-Prussian War, in July, 1870, King Wilhelm
I revived the award for the duration of the conflict. On the
eve of the First World War, in August 1914, Kaiser Wilhelm
reinstated the Iron Cross again, and on March 16, 1915, he
ordered that the award could be given to citizens of allied
foreign countries. This order has remained unchanged.
When the Second World War began, the Iron Cross was
reinstated a third time. Until this time, it had been a
Prussian decoration, but now it was an all-German
decoration. The Iron Cross is presented as First Class and
Second Class. The First Class is the higher of the two and
cannot be awarded unless the recipient has already received
the Second Class.
Ritterkreuz or Knight's Cross
The Pour le Merite, or Blue Max, was the highest German
decoration of the First World War except for some special
medals reserved for nobility and generals. The Blue Max was
awarded only to officers and was discontinued when Imperial
Germany was dissolved. In September, 1939, at the beginnings
of World War II, a new version of the Iron Cross was created
to replace the Pour le Merite: the Ritterkreuz, or Knight's
Cross of the Iron Cross. Following the example of set by the
Iron Cross it could be earned by anyone in the German armed
forces regardless of rank. The Ritterkreuz was the highest
German award druing World War II. The Ritterkreuz was
actually a continuation of the Iron Cross First Class ans
was awarded in four progressively important stages: Knight's
Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz); Knight's Cross of the
Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Eichenlaub); Knight's Cross of
the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Schwerten);
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords,
and Diamonds (Brillanten). Two higher forms of the
decoration existed but were awarded only once. The
Ritterkreuz was worn on a black, white, and red ribbon
around the neck. It was awarded for conspicuous bravery in
action and for outstandingly meritorious leadership. A
single act of outstanding bravery was not enough to merit
the Ritterkreuz. As with its predecessor, the Pour le
Merite, it was awarded only if the recipient exhibited
consistent acts of bravery or continuous outstanding
leadership. Once the Knight's Cross was awarded and another
presentation was in order, the Eichenlaub was presented,
followed by the Schwerten and finally Brillanten. Unlike the
British Victoria Cross and the American Medal of Honor, the
Ritterkreuz was never awarded for one act of bravery in the
face of the enemy, regardless of how heroic it may have
been.The Ritterkreuz was awarded 7,500 times, and 1,730 of
these went to Luftwaffe personel: 1,483 Ritterkreuzen; 192
Eichenlauben; 41 Schwertern; 12 Brillanten; 1 Golden Oak
Leaves; 1 Grand Cross.             Keith Heitmann, GVXV90A


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