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The II Class 1939 Clasp for the Iron Cross II Class, 1914. a Swastika

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The II Class 1939 Clasp for the Iron Cross II Class, 1914. a Swastika Top: Honor Roll Clasp in gold. Bottom: The II Class 1939 Clasp for the Iron Cross II Class, 1914. a swastika. Below the wreath was a tetrahedron with the date "1939" in- side. The clasp was 30 mm high and the eagle had a wingspread of 45 mm. A photograph is shown of the first class awards of this issuance. THE IRON CROSS SECOND CLASS FOR 1939 The second class Iron Cross for 1939 is described as follows: The Cross is suspended from a ribbon designed for wear on the medal bar or from the button hole. The Cross is black iron, edged in silver, The black iron center part is usually two separated pieces of stamped sheet iron. The face is the same as the Iron Cross, first class, in size and conformation. The reverse has only the founding year in the lower arm, 1813. Generally the Cross is well made. The silver border is attached by welding two identical borders together, with the iron face and reverse inside. The size of this cross rarely exceeds 43 ~n. The ribbon width may vary from 26 to 36 mm. It has the usual striping of the Iron Cross rib- bons of the past with one exception, the center stripe is red. In the past~ the ribbons of the Iron Crosses have been bl~ck with white side stripes and black edge stripes or, for non-combatants, a re- verse of this black-white coloring. The Iron Cross of 1939 was not a- warded for non-combatant actions. The center stripe was changed to red so that the colors would cor- respond to those of the old Empire and match the national ensign colors. This color scheme followed through on most of the Nazi decorations. THE II CLASS CLASP There was also a clasp for the 1914 holders of the Iron Cross, second class, who distinguished themselves for the first time in the war of 1939-1945. This was a clasp similar in design to the First Class clasp described above with one exception, it was 30 x 30 mm and was to be worn on the 1914 ribbon when that ribbon was worn at the button hole. Apparently, this device was not to be worn on the medal bar. A total of 1939 clasps I and II class awarded by the middle of January, 1945, is set at 101,000 pieces. The re-issued Iron Crosses, 1939. Flight Captain Hanna Reitsch won the first Iron Cross second class awarded to a woman in the 1939 issuance. The award was made in March, 1941. FOREIGN AWARDS Awards to German allies’ troops of the Iron Cross of 1939 are rather rare, but by the middle of January, 1945, about 125,000 are supposed to have been awarded. THE HONOR ROLL CLASP In order that there not be "too many" Knight’s Orosses of the Iron Cross or of the German Crosses awarded, there was created a new award called the Honor Roll Clasp. Fear was expressed that there was a possi- bility that the Knight’s Cross and the German Cross would lose some of their value if awarded too often. However, if not rewarded adequately, the German fighting man might lose some of his spirit so vital in the times of stress. Therefore, a new award was initiated for the individual who had re- ceived the Iron Cross First and second class and whose further deeds en- titled him to more recognition. Before, it was likely that that indi- vidual would have received the KnightTs Cross or the German Cross, but on the 3Oth of January, 1944, the honor roll was created. To signify the distinction, a clasp was designated for wear upon the ribbon of the Second Class Iron Cross, when it was worn in the button hole. A different design was made up for the Army, Navy and Air Force. They consisted of a gold wreath with the following branch variations: a swastika for the Army, a vertical anchor with swastika for the Navy and the Air Force eagle with a swastika in one foot. The wreath measures 24 mm across. Photographs are shown of the Honor Roll Clasp and the 1939 Clasp for the 1914 II class ribbon. THE REDESIGN OF THE 1939 ISSUANCE OF THE IRON CROSS With the advent of a new Germany, a Germany divided and pitted Ger- man against German, there was a necessity %o reactivate the ever ready The re-issued Honor Roll Clasp and II Class Bar, 19~9. German fighting man. The allies of the "Great War" no longer were com- patible and it became necessary to seek the assistance of those who we so actively sought to subdue less than two decades before. In fact, the war was~ as all wars are~ fought over ideas and ideals and not against people. Germany had taken defeat and pitched in to clean up the war scars and make a new place in the European community for her sons. By ~957 she had certainly done this. Everyone recognized a need for a new army, navy, and air force equipped and trained to defend Germany from her enemies, this time, Comm*unism. The help needed to train the new forces of the West could not come entirely from the outside. The veterans of Germany were solicited from both wars to aid and assist in the formation of a defensive and, if need be, an offensive fighting force. These veterans brought with them their experience and decorations of before. The swastika had long since been forbidden as a public symbol in Germany since 1945. There was a great need for a substitute for the swastika. This substitute was found in the old royal sy~nbol of three oak leaves on a stem with acorns. Therefore, all Nazi medals and decorations were to be worn from that time on with the swastika removed completely or with the insigne of the three oak leaves on a stem with acorns in lieu. Therefore, on 26 July, 1957, the West German Republic ordered that replacement decorations should be issued. The new designs of the Iron Crosses are shown here. There was no need for a new design for a Grand Cross to the Iron Cross, Breast Star, or Knight’s Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Golden Swords and Brilliants, because these were one of a kind and their recipients were either dead, non-existant or no longer active in service in Germany. Few of the win- ners of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Brilliants were active either. But all other holders of the Iron Cross in all grades and variations were invited to accept the new design. Some additional changes did take place. The new Knight’s Cross with or without addenda could be worn on a ribbon bar like the U.S. Congres- sional Medal of Honor. Also, the first class Iron Cross could be worn there as an additional Iron Cross ribbon. The second class Iron Cross ribbon was removed from the button hole, and placed on the ribbon bar with the rest. Of course, during dress occasions the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross could still be worn about the neck, though on a slightly narrower cravat than before. Likewise, the Iron Cross first class would be worn as a pin-on item on the left breast with the Iron Cross second class together with all of the other de-Nazified medals worn on a medal bar on the pocket. .
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