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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 19th 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 5th 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 1st 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.
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