German Cross
The German Cross (German: [Deutsches Kreuz] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)) was begun by Adolf Hitler on 16 November 1941 as an award that was a higher level than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. It was given in two classes: gold and silver (the color of the laurel wreath around the swastika), the gold was given out for bravery, the silver was given out for excellent service.
This award was also available in cloth, which made for easier wear on the combat uniform.
The title of the award is taken from the fact that the swastika is a type of cross.
German Cross Media
- DeutschesKreuzinGold
German Cross In Silver
- Verleihung des Deutschen Kreuzes in Gold an Stauffenberg.jpg
Award certificate: German Cross in Gold to Count Claus von Stauffenberg 8 May 1943
- Bundesarchiv Bild 101II-MS-0976-18, Ordensverleihung an U-Boot-Besatzung.jpg
Award of a Marine (submarine crew) with the German Cross in Gold (1942)
- Bundesarchiv Bild 146-2006-0115, Alfred Jaedtke.jpg
Worn on chest pocket of the field blouse (Captain Alfred Jaedtke, 1944)
- Bundesarchiv Bild 183-R63335, Siegfried Lemke.jpg
Cloth version worn on Luftwaffe flight suit (Lieutenant Siegfried Lemke, 1944)
- Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-732-0127-02A, Oberfeldwebel der Div. »Großdeutschland«.jpg
Worn on the field uniform by an Oberfeldwebel of the Großdeutschland Division in Central Russia, 1943
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
