The German Cross (Deutsches Kreuz) 1957 Issue |
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German Cross in Gold 1957 version, 3 piece construction |
16mm Stickpin German Cross in Gold 1957 version, 3 piece construction, for wear on civilian clothes |
9mm Stickpin German Cross in Gold 1957 Model, for wear on civilian clothes |
German Cross in Silver 1957 model, early version probably made from WW2 parts, 3 piece construction |
16mm Stickpin German Cross in Silver 1957 version, 3 piece construction, for wear on civilian clothes |
The German Cross was instituted on Hitler's instructions on September 28th 1941. The intention was for this award to bridge the gap between the Iron Cross 1st Class and the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. If both versions of the German Cross were awarded to one man, he could wear them together, with the Gold Award taking prescedence and worn above the Silver award. |
The German Cross in Gold was awarded for bravory in combat and to qualify you must first have been awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class and then perform a further 6 to 12 actions matching the one performed to gain the Iron Cross 1st Class, in order to receive the German Cross in Gold. |
The German Cross in Silver was awarded for leadership not involving combat and was closely related to the War Merit Cross. To qualify for the German Cross in Silver you must first hold the War Merit Cross 1st Class and then perform a further 6 to 12 actions matching the one performed to gain the War Merit Cross 1st Class, in order to receive the German Cross in Silver. |
The WW2 version of the cross had a swastika dominating the centre on both versions with the surrounding wreath in either Gold or Silver. The 1957 German Cross in Gold has the Iron Cross for its centrer piece with a Gold wreath to surround it. The 1957 German Cross in Silver has the War Merit Cross with swords as its center piece with a silver wreath to surround it. |
The German Cross in Silver was awarded 1,114 times, split as follows:- Army - 874 Kriegsmarine - 105 Luftwaffe - 65 SS and Police - 70 |
The German Cross in Gold was awarded 24,204 times, split as follows:- Army - 14,639 Kriegsmarine - 1,481 Luftwaffe - 7,248 SS and Police - 822 Foreigners - 14 |
9mm Stickpin German Cross in Silver 1957 Model, for wear on civilian clothes |
German Cross in Gold 1957 Unusual variation, 3 piece construction but appears to be WW2 parts for a DK Silver with the middle device of the DK in Gold |
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