THE IRON CROSS

The Iron Cross is mentioned in several of our chapters. Of course it wouldn’t be good to only repeat the same contents. Nonetheless we don’t want to make the mistake to write too much about the Iron Cross as a military decoration. This article is supposed to tell about the symbol.

In 1813 the European nations experienced the predominance of Napoleon’s France more than ever as a humiliation. On the 20th of March 1813 the King of Prussia called the people to the arms. Together with the Wars of Liberation (“German Campaign of 1813”) also the history of the Iron Cross begins in Breslau, the capital of Silesia. However it is based on the older cross of the knights of the Teutonic Order. Those who had been honored with the Iron Cross were named "Ritter des Eisernen Kreuzes = Knights of the Iron Cross“ in the 19^th century. This “title“ was however never official. With time passing by, the Iron Cross became the German military national symbol - as an ensign of chivalrousness, courage, bravery and fidelity.

Karl Friedrich Schinkel - A brilliant architect. - As an artist he also designed the Iron Cross in 1813.

(1) The “Ritterkreuz = Knights-Cross“ of the Teutonic Order (1198). The similarity to the Iron Cross (3) from the time of the Wars of Liberation (1813) is obvious. While the Iron Cross became the unreligious symbol for German Soldiership, for fidelity, courage and bravery, the cross of the Order does however remain connected to the cruel religious violence of the crusades.

(2) The well-known “Hochmeister = Highmaster/ Grand master“ Hermann von Saltza. The knights of the Teutonic Order wore a white cloak with a black cross on it.

Uniting the knightly history of Prussia with the ideals of the liberation against Napoleon, the Iron Cross was established as a military decoration. At first it was only scheduled for this War of Liberation.

Of course there is an interaction between the Iron Cross as a symbol and as a decoration. Therefore we provide some basic facts about both appearances now, without going too much into the details of the decoration:

1813

- The first version of the Iron Cross (as a decoration) showed three German oak leafs in the center. Above them were the initials of the King FW and a crown; below the year 1813 was written.

- The Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz) existed in two classes: EK I and EK II. At first only the second class was awarded. Only those, who had already received the second class, could receive the first class. The second class was worn at a black-white-black-white-black bond. The first class was pinned at the left breast.

- A third class, the Grand Cross, was worn at the collar. It was only awarded for a won battle or a comparable success - so to military leaders, who usually didn’t need the same amount of bravery ...

In the time after the war the Iron Cross finally became a symbol. The eagle on the Brandenburg Gate held the Iron Cross in it’s garland now and the military flags of Prussia showed the Iron Cross as a symbol too. An Iron Cross on a hill at Berlin gave it’s name to the city district of Berlin-Kreuzberg ( = Berlin-Cross-Mountain).

Almost like in an old German flag: The eagle on the Brandenburg Gate in front of the sky over Berlin.

1870

- After France had declared a war once again, the Iron Cross was renewed (as a decoration) again on July 19th 1870 for the duration of the war.

- The initials of the King FW were replaced by a W for the current King Wilhelm. This W moved to the centre. The three oak leaves disappeared.

- The backside now showed the picture of the Iron Cross of 1813.

Following this next victory over France the Iron Cross was also shown big on the standard of the Kaiser in the German Reich. The Navy bore it over the Oceans on the War Flag and it’s jack.

(1) The standard of the Kaiser

(2) German colonial troops under the Reich War Flag.

(3) Even the standard of the empress showed the Iron Cross.

1914

- When the next War against France had begun, the Iron Cross was awarded by Prussia as a decoration again since August 5^th 1914.

- Only the year changed in 1914. The king (of Prussia) was a Wilhelm again ...

In this simplified version the Iron Cross was painted on planes and tanks of the German Reich in World War I.

1918

The revolution changed nothing about the importance of the Iron Cross. It was integrated into diverse flags by the republican German Reich too.

(1) The jack of the war ships until 1918; with a black-red-golden field in the corner up on the left this flag was still used in the republic too and in 1921 it was even made the Reich War Flag.

(2) The Iron Cross included into the German Dreifarb. In the republican German Reich this flag was used by the Department of Defence. Basically however it is only the combination of two important national symbols. Therefore it definitely shouldn’t exclusively be seen in this unimportant historic context.

(3) The first Reich War Flag of the republican German Reich (1919-1921).

1939

- Since the 1^st of September 1939 the Iron Cross was awarded as a decoration again.

- The initial in the center was replaced by the swastika.

- Of course the year changed into 1939.

- The colours of the second class’s bond became black-white-red-white-black now.

- A new class, the “Ritterkreuz = Knight’s Cross“, was worn at the collar.

Stylized in such ways the Iron Cross was used as the ensign of the German Reich in World War II. The Germans on the American side fought under a white star ...

Also the symbol was used more often now than ever: In the German Reich the crosses on graves of those having died in action got standardized and received the shape of the iron cross. Later this wasn’t realistic anymore: The simple combination of rifle and helmet got it’s sad task back more and more often ...

The death of Germans in military service is also marked by the Iron Cross in texts (for example in obituary notices).

Not dictated by the leadership of the Reich: Simple Iron Crosses as a memorial and recognition for comrades having died in action.