Grand Cross of the Iron Cross

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Version from 1914

The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (often just called Grand Cross ) was the highest Prussian war medal from 1813 to 1918 and the highest in the German Reich from 1939 to 1945. The Grand Cross was donated together with the Iron Cross on March 10, 1813 by the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III. in Wroclaw . It was awarded a total of 20 times in four wars, the last award to Göring in 1940 being revoked by Hitler in 1945.

classification

Representation of the different classes of the Iron Cross

The original deed of foundation from 1813 shows:

"[...] 6. The Grand Cross can only be used by the commanding officer for a won decisive battle after which the enemy has to leave his position, likewise for the removal of an important fortress or for the continued defense of a fortress that does not fall into enemy hands receive. [...] "

The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (EK) is worn as a neck medal and its dimensions are about twice as large as the EK II. Its exterior corresponds to the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (introduced in 1939) . The Grand Cross represents the highest class of the EK's order of war and was thus the highest possible order of war in the German Reich. In contrast to the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class and the Knight's Cross, the Grand Cross was only awarded for outstanding military deeds related to the war as a whole until the end of the First World War.

carrier

Below are the holders of the order, with the date of the award in brackets.

Wars of Liberation (1813 to 1815)

Version from 1813
Version from 1914
Version from 1914
Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher with Grand Cross and Blücherstern. After Ernst Gebauer , ca.1815

The Grand Cross was awarded five times during the wars of freedom against Napoleon . Blücher was also awarded a special level of the Iron Cross, the so-called Blücher star . The Blücherstern (actually Iron Cross with golden rays) was irretrievably destroyed in a fire in Krieblowitz Castle in 1820, the Blücher family owns a reproduction of this order.

Franco-German War (1870 to 1871)

In the Franco-German War nine Grand Crosses were awarded:

First World War (1914 to 1918)

August von Mackensen, after January 9, 1917
Paul von Hindenburg with a grand cross around his neck and a Hindenburg star on his left breast

The Grand Cross was awarded five times during the First World War . Like Blücher before in the Wars of Liberation, von Hindenburg was awarded a special level of the Iron Cross for his services, which was then referred to as the Hindenburg star , analogous to the Blücherstern . The Hindenburg star disappeared from the Prussian Army Museum during the turmoil of World War II and has been considered lost ever since.

Second World War (1939 to 1945)

Hermann Göring with Grand Cross after his capture on May 9, 1945

The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross was donated at the beginning of the Second World War in 1939 together with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross by Adolf Hitler . It was only awarded once, on July 19, 1940, to Hermann Göring , who was also appointed Reichsmarschall . Since the Grand Cross was still above the award levels of the Knight's Cross in the ranking, Göring was the highest honored German of the Second World War. However, the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross in 1939 did not receive the rank of an award for bravery. On April 23, 1945 Göring was stripped of the award because Hitler felt he had betrayed him ( Political Testament of Adolf Hitler ). There are several copies of the Grand Cross, all pieces were made by CE Juncker, Berlin.

The US Army seized at the end of the war in Austria a special stage of the Grand Cross - with star - like the Blücher Star and the Hindenburg star . This award was never presented. Who it was intended for is also unknown. The award was definitely planned after the war. This star is in West Point .

gallery

  • Grand Cross of the Iron Cross 1813 (replica)

  • Grand Cross of the Iron Cross 1870 (replica)

  • Grand Cross of the Iron Cross 1914 (replica)

  • Grand Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 (replica)

  • "Iron cross with golden rays" called "Blücherstern" (replica)

  • Star of the Grand Cross 1914 called "Hindenburgstern" (replica)

  • Museum production of the not awarded star for the Grand Cross 1939

literature

  • Dietrich Maerz: The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross , B&D Publishing LLC, Richmond, MI 2007
  • Stephen Previtera: The Iron Time , Winidore Press, Virginia 2008