War Merit Cross (1939)

Official representation of the War Merit Cross of the 2nd and 1st class without swords in the Reichsgesetzblatt. There was no official illustration of the Knight's Cross for the War Merit Cross without swords in any issue.

Official representation of the War Merit Cross of the 2nd and 1st class with swords in the Reichsgesetzblatt. An official illustration of the Knight's Cross for the War Merit Cross with Swords was not made in any edition.

The War Merit Cross (KVK) was an award of the German Reich in World War II for soldiers and civilians and was donated by ordinance of October 18, 1939 in the name of Adolf Hitler as head of state. It was the highest war award for civilians who were not involved in acts of war. It was also awarded to soldiers who had been involved in so-called “other war tasks”, i.e. not fighting (e.g. members of the medical service , medical officers , veterinarians , etc.). Employees of the security service of the Reichsführer SS (SD) and the police also received this award. In addition, employees of the agency commissioned with art theft , Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR) were awarded this medal. In the case of SD employees, according to Carsten Schreiber, the award of the War Merit Cross with swords indicates participation in acts of violence, which means, for example, participation in acts of murder primarily against the Jewish population in the conquered eastern regions.

background

In the course of the 19th century until the end of the First World War , the individual German states awarded their own medals and badges for war merit. In Prussia , the Iron Cross on a white and black ribbon was awarded in such cases .

Foundation content

The original foundation only provided for the First and Second Class War Merit Crosses with and without swords, but was not used before 1940. A clear differentiation between the merits on the so-called " home front " (without swords) and the rear front area, the stage and the replacement army (with swords) should be achieved. The Foundation Ordinance states that the War Merit Cross with Swords is awarded "... for special merits when deployed under the influence of enemy weapons or for special merits in military warfare." (Art. 3a Foundation Ordinance) (i.e. without the "bravery before the Enemy "or" outstanding service in command of the troops "). On the other hand, it is awarded without swords "... for special merits in the performance of other war tasks where there was no use under the effect of enemy weapons." (Art. 3b Foundation Regulation)

Anyone who received an award without swords could later be awarded the War Merit Cross with swords, but not the other way around (Art. 4 Foundation Ordinance in the version of September 28, 1941). An Iron Cross that had already been awarded initially ruled out the award of the relevant class of the War Merit Cross until August 1941. The steps without swords actually took the position of the iron cross on the white and black ribbon, which had been awarded to civilians in these cases in 1813–1815, 1870–1871 and 1914–1918.

In 1940 the War Merit Cross was expanded to four levels; Hitler personally reserved the award of the Knight's Cross to the War Merit Cross . The lowest, affiliated level, the War Merit Medal , was not intended to be awarded to soldiers, unless they were intended for the planned war memorial medal to commemorate the war of 1939/1940 , and therefore had no section with swords. The remaining levels could be awarded to soldiers and civilians with or without swords.

Classes

According to the ordinance on the foundation of the War Merit Cross, this was awarded for recognition for “special merits” that did not meet the requirements of the Iron Cross. In fact, the War Merit Cross was the medal, which was awarded for services in the rear front area, the stage and replacement army or at home, while the Iron Cross was reserved for services in direct combat operations. The War Merit Cross of all classes could be awarded to all ranks of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS , but also to civilians. On July 8, 1944, Adolf Hitler donated the golden knight's cross; however, this innovation was not published. It thus comprised the following stages:

War Merit Medal (from August 19, 1940)
War Merit Cross, Class II (from October 18, 1939)
War Merit Cross 1st Class (from October 18, 1939)
Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross (from August 19, 1940)
Golden Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross (from July 8, 1944).

War Merit Cross without Swords

War Merit Medal with Ribbon Clasp	II. Class with strap	1st class (57 version)	Knight's cross	Golden Knight's Cross

War Merit Cross with Swords

II. Class with strap	1st class (57 version)	Knight's cross	Golden Knight's Cross

Appearance

The round war merit medal made of bronze (designed by Richard Klein ) shows an embossed eight-pointed Maltese cross . In the middle there is an upside down swastika . On the back is the inscription For War Merit 1939 .

The shape of the War Merit Cross is an eight-pointed Maltese cross with a round central shield, on the front of which a swastika with an oak leaf border can be seen. On the back is the year 1939 . The second class is held in bronze and was worn on the 30 mm wide ribbon on the medal buckle or in the buttonhole (25 mm). The 1st class is matt silver-plated and was worn as a cross on the left side of the chest.

The Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross is silver-plated or gold-plated and slightly larger than the War Merit Cross I./II. Class. It was worn on a 45 mm wide ribbon as a neck medal. The knight's cross with swords has grooves on the eyelets and on the band ring, while the knight's cross without swords has smooth eyelets and a smooth band ring. The wide part of the band ring was carried upwards, the sample photos taken here are mostly wrong.

Ribbon

The ribbon of the War Merit Cross II. Class and that of the Knight's Cross had the color sequence red-white-black (wide) -white-red, i.e. the colors of the German Reich , similar to the Iron Cross from 1939, but the color sequence was black -White-red (wide) -White-black was.

Carrying method

The War Merit Cross medal, like the Second Class War Merit Cross, was only worn on the ribbon on the day of the award. Then, as with the Iron Cross, 2nd class, the ribbon was sewn to the second buttonhole of the uniform jacket and / or worn as a ribbon buckle over the left breast pocket. It was important to note that the second class ribbon with swords in the buttonhole could only be worn without swords. Two crossed bronze swords, as shown on the left in the photo above, were placed on the field buckle. First class owners always wore their cross on the left breast pocket of their uniform. The Knight's Cross, like the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross , was always worn visibly as a necklace order. When awarding a class with swords, it was important to ensure that the two equivalent classes of the War Merit Cross are not worn at the same time. An exception is the War Merit Medal, which was allowed to be worn even when the War Merit Cross was later awarded. From July 8, 1944, the KVM was additionally awarded to all higher levels.

Gottlob Berger with the Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross with swords on the collar

Ernst Ritter with the Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross on the collar

How to wear the ribbon for the War Merit Cross II class on the uniform jacket of an Unterscharfuhrer of the Security Service of the Reichsführer SS (SD)

Walter Funk , wearing the War Merit Cross 1st Class, recognizable under the left breast pocket

Hans Jüttner with the Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords

The initial confusion about how to wear the new War Merit Cross went so far that the various parts of the Wehrmacht ( army , navy and air force ) had to issue their own orders to regulate the “wild growth” in how the War Merit Cross was worn.

Regulations of the Navy of February 22, 1940: “Knight's Cross for the War Merit Cross on the neck above the binder. The knight's crosses are to be worn visibly. When the coat is on, the 3 top buttons can also be left open by NCOs and crews. War Merit Cross I Under the EK I from 1914 War Merit Cross II ribbons - possibly with swords on the small medal buckle at the KVK. The ribbon of the KVK II behind the EK II from 1914, but in front of the Order of the Sword and other crosses of merit and honor from the First World War. The small medal buckle may also be worn on the overcoat of NCOs and men during the war. Except for the small medal buckle, the KVK tape may be worn: on the skirt, jacket and overcoat in the uppermost usable buttonhole, but not on the coat. For the field gray navy uniform: On the skirt or on the field blouse in the second buttonhole from the top, but not on the coat. Swords are not worn with the KVK II band with swords worn in the buttonhole. "

Award numbers and award practice

Award certificate for the War Merit Cross, 2nd class with swords

Award of the KVK also to the Hitler Youth of the Hitler Youth ( HJ )

The War Merit Cross was presented with a certificate in a box, the lower classes simply in a paper bag. The medal for the War Merit Cross and the II. Class were mass awards, the number of awards for all classes to members of the army and the Waffen-SS amounted to:

War Merit Cross, 2nd class approx. 2,700,000 times
War Merit Cross, 1st class, approx. 140,000 times
Knight's Cross of the KVK approx. 230 times (140 times without swords).

The highest class was given only to civilians:

Golden Knight's Cross of the KVK without swords exactly twice on April 20, 1945
- to Franz Hahne (head foreman at Rheinmetall-Altmärkische Kettenwerke )
- to Karl Saur (Head of Service and Head of Office in the Reich Ministry of Armaments) (according to other sources, the award was only proposed, but could no longer be carried out because the war ended).

The War Merit Medal was only awarded to German and non-German civilians, both men and women. As a rule, the loan was given to workers in factories that had significantly exceeded the labor quotas. An estimated 4.9 million War Merit Medals had been awarded by the end of the war. After May 15, 1943, the award of the War Merit Medal to foreigners was replaced by the Merit Medal of the Order of Merit of the German Eagle .

The given award numbers are to be regarded as inaccurate, since the award numbers to the Air Force and Navy are unknown. For the first time, the War Merit Cross II. Class without swords was given to Dr. Gustav Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach was awarded on the occasion of his 70th birthday. The oldest holder of the award was the Deputy Reich Guild Master of the Linen Tailoring Trade, who received the War Merit Cross in 1944 when she was almost 80 years old. A ten-year-old boy, and thus probably the youngest bearer of the second class with swords, received his award for “brave behavior in the bombing war” in Dortmund in 1943.

It is worth mentioning that despite all attempts by the state to keep a proper and complete award list, this could not be implemented in practice. At times the War Merit Cross was presented “with full hands”. So z. For example, during an inspection of the damage caused by a bombing raid on Berlin , Joseph Goebbels distributed the War Merit Cross with swords to an unknown number of helpers who were busy with clean-up work. Furthermore, the War Merit Cross could also be awarded to foreign volunteers who were sworn in on the Führer and Supreme Commander, employees or workers of the Wehrmacht, in armaments factories to their employees and also nurses. Also eligible were: Political leaders of the SA , SS and NSKK . But also members of the police, OT, RAD, NSDAP and their sub-organizations, air raid protection, etc.

In combat units, the two classes of the KVK with swords were a medal that was often awarded to soldiers of the rear units. In the 253rd Infantry Division (Wehrmacht) from 1940 to 1945 44.17% of this medal was awarded to soldiers in rear service. In the two classes of the EK, on the other hand, only 3.73% were awarded to soldiers in rear service. From 1940 to 1945 170 KVK I m. Schw. And 5.164 KVK II m. Sister awarded. In contrast, 11,335 were awarded for EK II and 2,078 for EK I.

The two classes of the War Merit Cross with Swords were also awarded to members of the Ordnungspolizei and the Waffen SS for participating in mass murders.

Carrier of the Knight's Cross of the KVK

Collective award

It should also be noted that entire companies could be awarded a special form of the War Merit Cross. It is the so-called "War Merit Cross on Flags". At the request of the then Reich Organization Leader Robert Ley and the Reich Minister for Armaments and Ammunition Albert Speer , Adolf Hitler approved the creation of " war model companies ". The award was made in recognition of the outstanding commitment and exemplary performance of the operating community in the context of the war economy . With the presentation of a corresponding certificate, the company group receives the right to use the War Merit Cross (without swords) in its ( DAF ) flag. At the beginning of May 1942, 19 companies were awarded the “War Model Company” award for the first time for their exemplary work in the joint venture in German war production.

The award "war model company" was staggered:

First recognition,
Second recognition when increasing quality and quantity,
Silver flag of the German Labor Front with the War Merit Cross and
Golden flag of the German Labor Front with the War Merit Cross.

Application for distinction
Flag "First and Second Recognition"
Silver flag for the War Merit Cross
Gold flag for the War Merit Cross

Others

According to the law on titles, medals and decorations of July 26, 1957, wearing the award in the version of the Third Reich in the Federal Republic of Germany is only permitted without National Socialist emblems. Instead of the swastika, the foundation year 1939 can be seen on the award . In contrast, the back remains blank for all classes.

War Merit Medal as worn from 1957
War Merit Cross 2nd class without swords, as it was worn from 1957
War Merit Cross 2nd class with swords, as it was worn from 1957
War Merit Cross 1st Class with and without swords, as it was worn from 1957
Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross without swords, as it was worn from 1957
Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords, as it was worn from 1957

A reduced form of the War Merit Cross 1st Class is in the middle of the German Cross in silver, as it was worn from 1957.

literature

Heinrich Doehle : The awards of the Greater German Reich. Orders, decorations, badges. 5th edition. Erdmenger, Berlin 1945 (Reprint. Patzwall, Norderstedt 2000, ISBN 3-931533-43-3 ).

Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann : Awards of the German Empire. 1936-1945. 11th edition. Motorbuch, Stuttgart 2004, ISBN 3-87943-689-4 .

Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann: Pour le mérite and medal of bravery. The Order Collection, Berlin 1966.

Jörg Nimmergut : German medals and decorations until 1945. Volume 4: Württemberg II - German Empire. Central Office for Scientific Order Studies , Munich 2001, ISBN 3-00-00-1396-2 .

Dieter Pohl: Order for mass murder. In: The time . No. 24 of June 5, 2008, p. 92.

Web links

Commons : War Merit Cross - Album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

↑ RGBl. 1939, I, v. October 24, 1939, pp. 2069 ff.
↑ Carsten Schreiber: Elite in Hidden: Ideology and regional domination practice of the security service of the SS and its network using the example of Saxony. Oldenbourg Verlag, Munich 2008, ISBN 3486706543 , p. 212.
↑ See the historical original text for the explanation of the pictures here
↑ There are also known original copies in silver, cf. here
↑ On August 10, 1940 , the OKH issued an order on the correct way of carrying, followed by the Navy on February 22, 1941, and finally even the Reich Minister of the Interior , Wilhelm Frick, on November 19, 1941, was compelled to write a circular about how to carry of the War Merit Cross in the civil sector.
↑ John Angolia: For leaders and Fatherland: Military Awards of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing 1987. ISBN 0912138149 , p. 306
↑ Christoph Rass: "Menschenmaterial": German soldiers on the Eastern Front. Interior views of an infantry division 1939–1945. Schöningh Verlag, 2003, ISBN 3-506-74486-0 . Pp. 439-340 ( online ).
↑ Order for Mass Murder , in Die Zeit No. 24, June 5, 2008, accessed on December 25, 2017

[1] RGBl. 1939, I, v. October 24, 1939, pp. 2069 ff.

[2] Carsten Schreiber: Elite in Hidden: Ideology and regional domination practice of the security service of the SS and its network using the example of Saxony. Oldenbourg Verlag, Munich 2008, ISBN 3486706543 , p. 212.

[3] See the historical original text for the explanation of the pictures here

[4] There are also known original copies in silver, cf. here

[5] On August 10, 1940 , the OKH issued an order on the correct way of carrying, followed by the Navy on February 22, 1941, and finally even the Reich Minister of the Interior , Wilhelm Frick, on November 19, 1941, was compelled to write a circular about how to carry of the War Merit Cross in the civil sector.

[6] John Angolia: For leaders and Fatherland: Military Awards of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing 1987. ISBN 0912138149 , p. 306

[7] Christoph Rass: "Menschenmaterial": German soldiers on the Eastern Front. Interior views of an infantry division 1939–1945. Schöningh Verlag, 2003, ISBN 3-506-74486-0 . Pp. 439-340 ( online ).

[8] Order for Mass Murder , in Die Zeit No. 24, June 5, 2008, accessed on December 25, 2017