The iron cross was awarded to test pilot, flight captain hanna reitsch in september, 1942. Posted by john on aug 1st 2018 nice example of the award for reenactin. German iron cross ww2 ww1 first class second class identification military medal award duration. This category has the following 4 subcategories, out of 4 total. The grand cross was slightly larger than the first and second class crosses and was worn around the neck from a ribbon. Iron cross first class, though the iron cross first class was awarded concurrently with the knights cross in some cases. By the end of the second world war approximately 2,300,000 e.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. I n september 1939, the germans reinstituted the iron cross, it was awarded to both officers and enlisted men in the wehrmacht, luftwaffe, kriegsmarine, waffenss or. This imperial 2nd class iron cross is double sided, having good silvering to the edges, and crisp serrations throughout. More information about this seller contact this seller 18. The iron cross came in four grades at the beginning of the war, being the iron cross 2nd class for one act of bravery, the iron cross 1st class for 4 or more acts of bravery, the knights cross of the iron cross, four outstanding act of bravery and the grand cross of the iron cross only awarded once in world war two to hermann goring the. The iron cross first class was either a pinned back or a screw back medal worn on the left side of the recipients uniform. An iron cross second class 1870 by godet with jubilee spange 777. For a comparable feat of valour, the soldier might then receive the iron cross, first class. Same applied to the first class, bar was then worn above the decoration. German ww1 iron cross 2nd class 1914 with ribbon military medal for bravery imperial prussian medalrepro. Wwii german cased first class iron cross 4 this is another example of a cased iron cross. The 18, 1870, and 1914 iron crosses had three grades.
Iron cross first class, nonmagnetic core post by bankers. Reflections on the 1870 iron cross with special consideration to the. Iron cross, 1st classiron cross, first class, silver frame, iron core nonmagnetic, vertical cokebottle pinback, marked 15 by maker friedrich orth, vienna. Cross of iron by willi heinrich meet your next favorite book. The iron cross 2nd class was the first grade within the iron cross that was to be. It was designed on the occasion of the german campaign of 18, when friedrich wilhelm iii of prussia commissioned the iron cross as the first military decoration open to all ranks, including enlisted men. The black cross schwarzes kreuz is the emblem used by the prussian army, and by the army of germany from 1871 to present. Bensons crescent and iron cross consists of 7 parts for ease of reading. The iron cross is a coverage bet, with a singleroll and a multiroll component, combining separate wagers, each one with its own nx, but each is weighted differently because none resolve the same number of times in the cycle of rolls.
The iron cross of the imperial era had three grades. Iron cross, prussian military decoration instituted in 18 by frederick. The iron cross first class was worn on the left side of the recipients uniform. The german iron cross, a listing of 2nd class variations. Paint worn on swastika, chipped within the arms, pin a little loose. The iron cross 1st class had the same dimensions and identical obverse features as the 2nd class 44mm by 44mm. 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 18, 1870, and 1914. A special class, the grand cross on a radiant star, was created especially for field marshal g. The iron cross second class was worn suspended from a ribbon on the left side of the recipients uniform. Even in 18, there were second and firstclass iron crosses.
This book also includes an indepth discussion of the oak leaves, the swords, the golden diamonds, the grand cross and the elusive star to the grand cross. Constructed of 3 pieces, the 1st class was a breast badge and therefore the reverse was a solid silvered metal plate with only the attachment mechanism present. The iron cross was traditionally made of iron, but later medals were fashioned from cheaper metals such as aluminum. This is a firsthand account of ww2 from the viewpoint of a young german tank. The following is a list of living knights cross of the iron cross recipients the knights cross of the iron cross and its higher grades were based on four separate enactments. List of knights cross of the iron cross recipients. Iron cross 1870 german empire 18701918 germany europe. Download 18,835 iron cross stock photos for free or amazingly low rates.
List of living knights cross of the iron cross recipients. Of interest, however, is the awarding of the first iron cross to a woman in this conflict. Udet 18961941 began the first world war as a dispatch rider in the german army, subsequently paid for his own pilot lessons, and returned to the western front as a 2seater pilot in 1916. The problem with the iron cross strategy in my humble. On over 600 pages the authors present all sixtytwo known and yet unknown makers in great detail. It was authorized for a singel act of bravery in combat. On hundreds of pages you will find information about the history of the award, its manufacturing process, award procedures, and, most importantly, precise data, photographs, and scans which will enable the collector or student of this famous and prestigious emblem of. The problem with the iron cross strategy in my humble opinion. Iron cross stock photos download 18,835 royalty free photos. With over 600 pages covering every one of the over sixty makers. The iron cross in the same class cound not be awarded a second time, so the 1939 bar was introduced. Within each grade the recipients are ordered chronologically. Real or fake iron cross 1st class axis history forum. Buy ww germany collection iron cross 1st class 1914 award order, medal.
When the iron cross was brought back in 1914, other variants appeared. The grand cross of 1870 was affected likewise while the first class iron cross had the details of a prussian crown, w and 1870 added to what was formerly a plain iron obverse. This category is for notable people who received the iron cross, 1st class issued in 18, 1870, 1914, or 1939 subcategories. During these three periods, the iron cross was an award of the kingdom of prussia, although given prussias preeminent place in the german empire formed in 1871, it tended to be treated as a generic german decoration. The knights cross of the iron cross by dietrich maerz new dust cover the regulations, distribution and all accepted makers of the highest award are presented here in never before seen detail. But here again we must reference schneider, who states in his book that. The cross has the rounded frame type often associated with the deumer firm. Ritterkreuz des eisernen kreuzes and its variants were the highest awards in the military of the third reich. To the right an original case for the iron cross 1st class. The iron cross first class was a pinon award and was worn centred on the left breast pocket of the tunic. These are very nice reproductions featuring sharp details and very nice frosted or antique silver plating and authentic ribbon. Real or fake iron cross 1st class post by hidalgo75 24 aug 2005, 20. Jul 17, 2011 iron cross, first class german medal of wwii. The core retains about 99% of its black finish with some minor age starining to the reverse on the dates.
The first form of the iron crosses 1st class were stitched in ribbon to the left uniform breast. By order of 1 june 18, the 2nd form was created in cast iron with. The memoirs of an iron cross panzer commander from. Second class iron cross the award has a award has an upper loop where a ring is attached allowing it to be suspended via a ribbon. Knights cross of the iron cross introduced on september of 1939. The iron cross first class by dietrich maerze and george stimson. Quintus fabius maximus originally, the cross had three classes, listed in ascending order. From this time, the black cross was featured on the prussian war. Hence, the first class was more restricted and more highly prized. On hundreds of pages youll find information about the history of the award, its manufacturing process, award procedures, and, most importantly, precise data. The spange can be considered a variation on the ek1 in the sense that it was awarded in place of the actual medal if the individual being awarded had previously held the iron cross ist class during wwi. First class iron cross this award has a pin back and does not hang from a ribbon.
Klasse iron cross 1st class and 1939 clasp to the 1914 iron cross 1st class. Wwii iron cross second class 5 iron cross 2nd class complete with the issue box. It is estimated that some four and a half million 2nd class iron crosses were. Bar to the iron cross spange zum eisernen kreuz the bar to the iron cross was used to indicate the award of the 1st or 2nd class iron cross to someone who won the same decoration in the first world war. On the first eighty pages of the book a deep and well documented look at the distribution, award procedure, and manufacturing will give the reader never before published information. The cross is of standard quality and construction and is a nice unmarked example. A very scarce and fine cased iron cross 18, first class 4001. Iron cross first class, nonmagnetic core post by bankers 09 apr 2007, 19. Read crescent and iron cross online, free books by e. The award was also noted in the recipients soldbuch soldiers pay book, his wehrpass military. The iron cross 1939 was similar in shape to its predecessors, that is a maltese cross more accurately a formee cross, of course with the significant exception that the old crown, oak leaves and initials that were the heart of all previous imperial prussian crosses were replaced by a new set of features centered around the nazi swastika. Even in 18, there were second and first class iron crosses.
An exception is the lowest grade, here the recipients are ordered alphabetically by last name. The two first classes of the iron cross encompass four awards when the clasps to the 1914 crosses are included. If you collect the iron cross then this book is a must. For manufacturing process, please see the section in this article. I n september 1939, the germans reinstituted the iron cross, it was awarded to both officers and enlisted men in the wehrmacht, luftwaffe, kriegsmarine, waffenss or their service organizations. The iron cross was established in 18 in breslau and given to soldiers in the wars against napoleon. The information inside gives good details of the individual crosses as well as the history of the institution of each cross from 18 to 1957. The bar was worn clipped to the uniform jacket above the 1st class 1914 medal, or in the case of the 2nd class, on the ribbon. Dec 26, 2009 german iron cross ww2 ww1 first class second class identification military medal award duration. Except for the actual award ceremony, the iron cross 2nd class was usually worn in ribbon form only, through the. Iron cross first class, nonmagnetic core axis history forum.
Two iron cross first class recipients were women, one of those being test pilot. Cross of iron was a joint anglogerman production between emi films and itc entertainment of london and rapid films gmbh from munich. Another variation existed unofficially in a cloth version, but this was very rarely used, if at all. The book also contains details of a few of the many recipients over the years to add a real feeling to the whole story of the iron cross. An exact date is not known for the first award of the ek1 or its spange. On hundreds of pages you will find information about the history of the award, its manufacturing process, award procedures, and, most importantly, precise data, photographs, and scans which will enable the collector or student of this famous and prestigious emblem of honor to. Cross of iron is considered one of the classic combat novels about the eastern front in world war two. Jul 05, 2016 the iron cross came in four grades at the beginning of the war, being the iron cross 2nd class for one act of bravery, the iron cross 1st class for 4 or more acts of bravery, the knights cross of the iron cross, four outstanding act of bravery and the grand cross of the iron cross only awarded once in world war two to hermann goring the. The iron cross 2nd class is composed of three sections where the third section is sandwhiched.
This book is the pinnacle resource for iron cross collectors or military history buffs outstanding pictures and illustrations for every award and era. The iron cross was reauthorized in 1914 by emperor wilhelm ii when the first world war started see the wwi uboat decoration. This is the most comprehensive and detailed book yet written about the german iron cross first class ek 1 decoration of 1939. Wwii german iron cross 1st class with box 3 a very nice example of a cased first class iron cross. It was simply the first iron cross awarded to a soldier. Cross of iron, first published in english in 1956 as the willing flesh, is a classic, realistic novel of a german army platoon trapped behind russian lines on the eastern front in world war ii. Thus, a soldiers first heroic act earned an iron cross, second class, and his second action earned him an iron cross first class. The iron cross first class could only be awarded to one who had previously received the iron cross second class. Both the medals looked very similar and were worn on the same position on the lower left side of the uniform. Iron cross 2nd class iron cross 1st class grand cross of the iron cross although the medals of each class were identical, the manner in which each was worn differed. Sizes began to move into the 42 to 43mm range for the first and second class and the 60mm arena for grand crosses.
The most comprehensive and detailed book yet written about the german iron cross first class ek 1 decoration of 1939. The spange can be considered a variation on the ek2 in the sense that it was awarded in place of the actual medal if the individual being awarded had previously held the iron cross iind class during wwi. Iron cross, 1st classworld war i german iron cross 1st class 1914 marked d. Choose the part of crescent and iron cross which you want to read from the table of contents to get started.
Wwii iron cross second class 4 this is an iron cross 2nd class with manufacturer markings applied to the ring. C recipients of the clasp to the iron cross, 1st class. How to tell if a iron cross 1st and 2nd class is real or. The obverse side depicts a prussian crown, over the raisedout letter w in the center, and below that, has the date 1914. Recipients are grouped by grades of the knights cross. In large part to the duration of the conflict but also due to the desperate conditions in the end, these classes of the cross where awarded often enmass. Almost all world war two crosses were made out of three parts, the iron core. Iron cross 1st class 1939 ldo case of issue maker marked l16 am19099. Eisernes kreuz helpinfo, sometimes mistakenly called the maltese cross, is a military decoration of the kingdom of prussia, and later of germany, which was established by king frederick william iii of prussia and first awarded on 10 march 18 in breslau now wroclaw. The hoheitszeichen for the many veterans of the first war who had won the iron cross, first class, in 1914, there was designated a clasp to be worn above the 191. Read crescent and iron cross, free online version of the book by e. On hundreds of pages you will find information about the history of the award, its manufacturing process, award procedures, and, most importantly, precise data.