Nazi Germany restored the Iron Cross at the outbreak of World War II, and the series of medals is divided into eight grades, mainly awarded to soldiers who have made military achievements, but also to a small number of military and civilians who have made meritorious service (non-military merits but related to military operations), which I will describe in detail below from low to high.
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Iron Cross, 2nd Class
Soldiers who are eligible for bravery or similar circumstances can receive the Iron Cross of the Second Class, that is, the first meritorious service of the soldier, no matter how much merit you have, it can only be the Second Class Iron Cross. (This is not the same as our habit of dividing into first-class work, second-class work, and third-class work according to the size of the merit))
The second-level iron cross is also worn in a unique way, it must be worn at the second buttonhole on the chest of the regular suit, the first buttonhole of the wearing gown, and the lapel button of the armored jacket.
After the ceremony of the iron cross of the second class, the real seal can be seen, and then only the ribbon is worn
Moreover, it is also stipulated that the second-class iron cross is only worn in the real seal and ribbon to commemorate the award, and after the award ceremony, the real seal is no longer worn, only the second-level iron cross ribbon can be worn, which is the red, white and black "cloth strip" that we see in historical materials and film and television works, and the red, white and black "cloth strip" at the eye of the German army, that is, the second-class iron cross.
Iron Cross, 1st Class
After obtaining the second-class iron cross, the meritorious service is awarded to the first-class iron cross, which is designated to be worn in the left corset pocket, only wearing the real medallion and not wearing the ribbon, so that it is very easy to distinguish between the second and first-class iron crosses, the "cloth strip" worn at the buttonhole is two iron, and the one worn on the left chest bag is an iron, clear and clear, never confused.
First Class Iron Cross
Female test pilot Hannah. Lech was also awarded the Iron Cross of the Order of the Second and First Classes
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
After obtaining the Iron Cross of the First Class, you can earn the Knight's Iron Cross. The wearing position of this medal has changed again, it must be hung with a ribbon at the opening of the collar, the ribbon is hidden under the collar of the shirt or regular clothes and is flush with the upper end of the collar, that is to say, the medal cannot be hung around the neck like a medal, it is more like a ribbon to "tie" the medal around the neck, as if it were a "collar" composed of a ribbon and a medal, and the "collar" is hidden under the collar, exposing the medal only at the neckline.
Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Moldes, Second Class, First Class and Standard Wearer of the Oak Leaf Knight Medal
Knight of the Iron Cross of the Oak Leaf
After obtaining the Knight's Iron Cross, you can get oak leaf ornamentation, that is, add a silver oak leaf to the knight's medal, which is what we are accustomed to call the Oak Leaf Knight Iron Cross. The Oak Leaf Knight Medal is not awarded another medal, but only an oak leaf ornament is added to the original Knight's Medal, which is worn in exactly the same way as the Knight Medal.
Oak leaf ornament
Knight of the Order of the Oak Leaf
Knight of the Iron Cross of the Two-Sword Oak Leaf
After obtaining the Knight of the Oak Leaf Medal, you can get the double sword oak leaf ornament, that is, the crossed double sword on the oak leaf, that is, the double sword Oak Leaf Knight Medal, which is worn in the same way as the Knight Medal.
Double sword oak leaf ornament
Knight of the Order of the Oak Leaf with Two Swords
Knight's Iron Cross of the Diamond Double Sword Oak Leaf
After obtaining the Knight of the Order of the Oak Leaf with Two Swords, you can get the Diamond Double Sword Oak Leaf Decoration, that is, the silver Double Sword Oak Leaf is decorated with diamonds, which is the Diamond Double Sword Oak Leaf Knight Medal, which is worn in the same way as the Knight Medal.
Diamond double sword oak leaf ornament
Knight of the Order of the Oak Leaf with Two Swords of Diamond
Gold diamond double sword oak leaf knight iron cross
After receiving the Knight of the Order of the Oak Leaf of the Diamond Double Sword, then replace the silver diamond double sword oak leaf ornament with gold, which is the Gold Diamond Double Sword Oak Leaf Knight Iron Cross. In fact, the Knight of the Order of the Iron Cross with Two Swords and Oak Leaves was already the highest rank in the Iron Cross series, and it was awarded only one in the entire German War II, awarded to Air Force Colonel Rudel. Why is it actually the highest level? Because according to the regulations, there is another grade on the Gold Diamond Double Sword Oak Leaf Knight Medal, that is, the Great Iron Cross.
Gold diamond double sword oak leaf ornament
Knight of the Order of the Oak Leaf with Two Swords in Gold Diamonds
Air Force Colonel Rudel, the only person to receive the Knight of the Order of the Oak Leaf with a Golden Diamond and Two Swords
Grand Iron Cross
This medal is the highest rank of the Iron Cross in writing, and its specifications are a little larger than other Iron Cross medals, so it is called the "Big" Medal. But in reality, it was just a consolation prize tailored by Hitler for Reich Field Marshal Goering, without any practical significance, and it was only awarded one, hanging on the neck of Goe Fat.
The Grand Iron Cross around Goering's neck
The above is the rank and wearing of the Iron Cross, it can be seen that the military merits of Nazi Germany are not awarded according to the size of the merits, but according to the order of the number of meritorious service, step by step like a ladder from the second iron to the top, must not be crossed. That is to say, before obtaining the second iron, it is absolutely impossible to obtain a first iron and can not obtain a knight, of course, there are also major meritorious performances, you can obtain the second and first level iron cross at the same time, for example, when attacking the western front, many paratroopers on the same day to obtain the second iron cross and the first iron cross.
German Cross
The German Cross is divided into two types: gold and silver, gold is awarded to direct combatants and silver is awarded to non-combatants, and it is jokingly called "Hitler's omelette" because of its appearance like an omelette. Strictly speaking, this medal is not counted as the Iron Cross series, but it is closely related to the Iron Cross and is a supplement to the Iron Cross.
Hitler's omelette
With the expansion of the scale of the war, more and more meritorious soldiers, many people after obtaining the first class iron cross and then meritorious service again, it is reasonable to say that the knight's medal should be awarded, but Hitler also wants to control the number of knights and above the number of medals issued, how to do? People have already won a new meritorious service, you can't help but commend, right?
So Hitler had the opportunity to simply add a German Cross between the Iron Cross of the First Class and the Iron Cross of the Knights, and awarded to those who had already received an iron but could not meet the standards of the Knight's Medal. Therefore, it can be seen in the historical data that many people who received the Knight's Medal wore "Hitler omelette" and wore it in the right corset pocket.
At the right corset pocket is the "omelette"
Note that the "Hitler omelette" is not a necessary transition between the First Class Iron Cross and the Knight's Iron Cross, it is more like a gasket, used to alleviate the contradiction between the First Class Iron Cross and the Knight Iron Cross that there are too many meritorious personnel and a limited number of awards.
If there is a major meritorious performance after obtaining an iron, it can be directly awarded a knight medal, and there is no need for the "omelette" transition, so if you see those who wear knight medals and wear "omelettes", it must be comforted by the "omelette", and then double-handedly make meritorious contributions again, and finally get the knighthood.
Iron Cross
The thing in the picture below is the Iron Cross Ornament, and its shape and the Iron Cross medal seem to be eight rods, but it is the Iron Cross.
Iron Cross Of the Second Degree, black and white ribbon is the ribbon of the Iron Cross of the Second Class during World War I
Why is this Iron Cross different from what is described above? What is so unique about it? This has to start with the First World War.
During World War I, Germany awarded the Iron Cross of the Second and First Classes, both of which were awarded to many veterans. After the Nazis came to power and before the outbreak of World War II, the Iron Cross had not been restored, so many veterans wore The Iron Cross of the World War I period on their uniforms to show their honor.
Iron Cross of the First Degree
After Nazi Germany restored the Iron Cross, the Iron Cross of World War I and the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany, mainly two iron and one iron, were exactly the same in the way and position, so it seemed repetitive and cumbersome, so Nazi Germany stipulated: All soldiers who had obtained two irons and one iron during World War I, when they obtained two irons and one iron again in World War II, they would no longer be issued iron crosses, but issued iron cross ornaments, iron cross decorations and iron crosses have the same effect, to put it bluntly, The decoration is another shape of the Iron Cross.
Marshal Liszt wears the World War I Iron Ribbon and the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany ii at the buttonhole, and wears the World War I Iron and World War II Iron Medal on his left chest
The decorations worn by Marshal Liszt above are as standard as textbooks. The Iron Cross ornament is divided into second and first degree, and the second degree iron cross ornament is worn on the Iron Cross ribbon of the First World War I, positioned at the second button eye of the regular suit. The Iron Cross of the First Degree is worn in the left corset pocket, above the Iron Cross of the First Class of the First World War.
Cross of merit
The Meritorious Cross is not part of the Iron Cross series, but it has the same effect as the Iron Cross. The Cross of Merit is divided into two types: with or without a sword, and there are several grades such as second class, first class, knight, etc., and the wearing method is the same as that of the Iron Cross Medal.
The cross of the sword with a sword is called the Cross of the Meritorious Sword, which is awarded to non-direct combatants who participate in the battle on the front line, such as meritorious personnel in the departments of communications, medical treatment, transportation and logistics.
Officers who have received the Knight's Order of the Sword of merit second, first class, and knighthood
The Cross of Merit without a sword is awarded to meritorious personnel who are engaged in military-related tasks in the rear.
There is also a circular meritorious cross like a medal, which is awarded to civilians who have performed meritorious service in military missions.
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