DOCSLIB.ORG

Iron Cross, 1 Class, 1813, of Ribbon, First Design

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Iron Cross, 1 Class, 1813, of Ribbon, First Design Iron Cross, 1 Class, 1813, of Ribbon, First Design.(Archiv Dro Klietmann, Berlin) is made of a change in design of the I Class Iron Cross, which was orig- inally issued as flat cast iron with a silver border and a silver reverse side. It had become a popular custom shortly after the freedom war to wear one’s Iron Cross reversed. That is, with the crown, initials, oak leaves, and date as the face of the medal. To that date the face of all Iron Crosses was officially flat and without inscription. This order of 1838 authorized and directed all owners of the Grand Cross and II Class cross to wear them reversed. Much confusion has resulted from this one point on the 1813 issue. THE HONOR SENIORS To further recognition of the Iron Cross holders, on the 3rd of Aug- ust, 1841, Frederieh Wilhelm IV signed into effect "The Iron Cross Senior Order." It is proclaimed that 24 holders of the Iron Cross I Class (equally divided between officers and commoners) and 72 of holders of the Iron Cross II Class (also equally divided between officers and commloners) would be declared "Seniors". This "Senior" title carried with it an an- nual stipend of 150 thalers to the Iron Cross I Class Seniors. Likewise, 50 thalers were given per year to the Iron Cross II Class Seniors. Arrangements were also’made for those who would fall into the sen- ior ranks and who were not in real need of the money. They could forfeit their grant of funds and receive the title "Honor Seniors". Of course, someone else would replace then* on the rolls of the "Senior" status. The status of Honor Seniors, or Seniors, was reserved for only those who won their crosses in battle. The selections of the seniors were based upon six periods of the liberation war when the Iron Cross was awarded to the individuals. A seventh group was made up of those who had inherited the combat cross. In 1859, the ranks of the Iron Cross holders had thinned somewhat to: 96 5,530 THE 50th ANNIVERSARY Already in 1857 a fund was set up by Frederich Wilhelm IV for those holders of the Iron Cross with a rank of sergeant or less. This fund was for the wounded, maimed, or sick veteran holders of the Iron Cross. Fur- ther, the King expanded the veterans benefits to include all holders of the Iron Cross First Class and Iron Cross Second Class, both combattant and non-combattants. Again, there was a provision for honor seniors who could forfeit their pay. March 17th, 1863, was designated founding day of the Iron Cross by Frederick Wilhelm IV. Letters went out to all holders of the Iron Cro~s and to many foreign dignitaries. These letters were invitations to a founders national festival at the house of the King. About 1800 Iron Cross holders accepted and were received with the great hospitality of the capital. The celebration included a cornerstone laying on a memorial to Fred- erick Wilhelm III, the founder of the Iron Cross. A festive parade and dinner were held in the castle and the rooms were occupied as never be- fore. Toasts were given and simultaneously in all the rooms of the cas- tle, a greeting by the King was read by the generals. It was suggested that those iron crosses which had been returned upon the death of the owner to the General-0rdens Commission be used to cast a huge Iron Cross to decorate the previously mentioned memorial. By 1868 only 991 of the original Iron Cross holders remained. The cross was the key to unlocking almost any door in Prussia by this time. Almost all high civil service and cabinet jobs were held by Iron Cross recipients. No Iron Crosses were issued in the wars between 1815-1870. REGIMENTAL FLAG DECORATIONS The regiments which saw combat in the Liberation War had their standards and flag poles decorated with the Iron Cross. Those regiments not Prussian which fought alongside the Prussians in the Freedom War had their standard poles decorated with a black "bow tie" with long stream- ers, which contained Iron Crosses in commemoration of the battles fought. VLADIMIR G. V0N RYCHTBR WROTE "THE KULM CROSS" "In 1910 the Russian magazine The 01d Coin (No. 9) published a brief resume on a lecture, ’A Sketch on the Development of Medals Commemorating Military Campaigns and Events’ which was delivered by Captain of the Guards E. Kozakevieh in St. Petersburg. Kozakevich, who was considered the contemporary expert in this field, mistakenly maintained that the Badge for the Battle of Kulm was instituted by Russian Emperor Alexander I. However, the German work on decorations and medals by Colonel yon Heyden (Meinningen, 1897) tells us that the Prussian Iron Cross was in- stituted in two classes by King Frederick William III on March 10, 1813, and the Kulm Cross on December 4, 1813. From the Russian point of view there was no difference between these two decorations. "It is beyond doubt that in the beginning the Prussian king awarded the real Iron Cross I class to certain units of the Russian Guards. In the battle of Dresden on the 14th and 15th of August, 1813, Napoleon brought utter defeat to the Allied armies. The latter began a disorderly retreat into Bohemia over the only existing road (one that was barely passable). To pursue the Allies, the French sent only one corps, that of Vandamme. And only because of the exceptional heroism of a detachment of Russian Guard units under the command of Count 0sterman-Tolstoy, who smashed Vanda~ne’s corps, were the Allied armies saved. Victories at Kulm, Katzbach, and Dennewitz had great significance; the morale of the Allies increased while the French spirits dropped. These victories of the Russians led to the ultimate defeat of Napoleon at Leipzig. "The Prussian king, witness to the selfless bravery of the detach- ment of Lt. General 0sterman-Tolstey’s at Kulm, personally rewarded the Guards with the Order of the Iron Cross, the highest Prussian military award of that time. "In May of 1815, 443 officers’and 11,120 soldiers’ crosses for Kulm were sent from Berlin to St. Petersburg, and in connection with this oc- camion the magazine The Russian Invalid August 27, 1816, published the following: "On the 24th day of this month badges of the Iron Cross were re- ceived here. His Majesty the King of Prussia had royally condescended to assignate these for award to those members of the Guard units who with exceptional courage fought at Kulm on the 17th day of August 1813. "For the occasion of awarding these decorations the commander of the Guards Corps, General of the Infantry Count Mildoradovich, gave the fol- lowing order: "’The Emperor and the Allied Monarchs, together with all Europe, evaluated in full fairness the unmatched courage shown by the Russian Guard units in the famous battle at Kulm on the 17th day of August 1813. But His Majesty the King of Prussia, wishing particularly to make His respect for the singular exploit of these troops, has condescended tO award them the decoration of the Iron Cross... To you, the deserving of- ficers and valiant soldiers 6f the Guards, who fought on the 17th day of August, belong these new badges of distinction! Let them increase the number of those decorations on your chests, which by toil and blood you have earned in battles for saving the Fatherland, for the glory of the Russian name, and for the freedom of Europe!’ "The crosses were given out at a special parade to the surviving 7,131 participants of the victory at Kulm. However, the number of cros- ses which was sent amounted to the actual number of men who were engaged in the battle--nearly 12,000 men. The losses then were more than 50~ killed and wounded. "The Kulm (Iron) Crosses which were bestowed upon the Guards immedi- ately after the battle were made by the Guards themsel .... Such badges were cut from white buckles and smaller crosses cut from leather were then superimposed upon the white metal background. Holes were screwed through the edges for sewing the crosses onto the uniform on the left side (as the Iron Cross I class was worn). The crosses which were sent to St. Petersburg three years later were factory-made; however, they were not made as well as the Iron Crosses given to the Prussian army. Accord- ing to some sources, some crosses had sharp barbs on the inside, for pin- ning them onto the uniform. The officers’ Kulm Crosses were of silver covered with black lacquer and the soldiers’ were of white iron. .... "At the auction of the collection of Colonel yon Heyden in 1898 one each of these crosses, marked "very, very rare", was sold at the high price of 81 and 71 marks respectively. In our times non-counterfeit Kulm Crosses are no longer to be found. An officer’s Kulm cross was in the Hohenzollern Museum in the Men Bijou Castle in Berlin. This castle was destroyed during the air-raids in 1944. Apparently no other such cross had been found in any of the remainin~ German collections. (For this information I am grateful to Dr. K. G. Klietmann of Berlin.) "In Russia the Kulm Cross served as a model for the co~nemorative badges of some Guard units. The series of medallions which were executed by famous sculptor, Count F. Tolstoy, included a medal in commemoration of the victory at Kulm.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Welcome to Issue Number 2 of Iron Cross by Lord Ashcroft
    COLUMN A welcome to Issue Number 2 of Iron Cross by Lord Ashcroft am delighted to have been asked to write a welcome Germany was an empire of 25 “states”; four kingdoms, six to this the second issue of Iron Cross magazine and to grand duchies, seven principalities and three Hanseatic be able to commend this splendid publication to the free cities. reader as an important historical journal. It provides Most had their own armies, even though some were Ian honest and objective look at German military history extremely small, consisting of just a single infantry from 1914 to 1945 for the first time. regiment. In most cases, these armies were trained, Over the past 33 years, I have built up the world’s organised and equipped after the Prussian model. largest collection of Victoria Crosses, Britain and the Although in wartime, these armies fell under the control Commonwealth’s premier gallantry award for bravery of the Prussian General Staff, the creation and bestowal ■ A selection of German gallantry awards from the First World War: L to R, Prussian Iron Cross 2nd Class, Prussian Knight’s Cross of the Royal House Order in the face of the enemy. As such, I am now the humble of gallantry awards remained a privilege of the territorial of Hohenzollern with Swords, Military Merit Cross 2nd Class of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Hamburg Hanseatic Cross and Honour Cross of custodian of more than 200 VCs from a total of over lords and sovereigns of the Reich. The reality was that the World War.
    [Show full text]
  • Identifying Extreme Racist Beliefs
    identifying extreme racist beliefs What to look out for and what to do if you see any extreme right wing beliefs promoted in your neighbourhood. At Irwell Valley Homes, we believe that everyone has the If you see any of these in any of the neighbourhoods right to live of life free from racism and we serve, please contact us straight away on 0300 discrimination. However, whilst we work to promote 561 1111 or [email protected]. We take equality, racism still exists and we want to take action to this extremely seriously and will work with the Greater stop this. Manchester Police to deal with anyone responsible. This guide helps you to identify some of the numbers, signs and symbols used to promote extreme right wing beliefs including racism, extreme nationalism, fascism and neo nazism. 18: The first letter of the alphabet is A; the eighth letter of the alphabet is H. so, 1 plus 8, or 18, equals AH, an abbreviation for Adolf Hitler. Neo-Nazis use 18 in tat- toos and symbols. The number is also used by Combat 18, a violent British neo-Na- zi group that chose its name in honour of Adolf Hitler. 14: This numeral represents the phrase “14 words,” the number of words in an ex- pression that has become the slogan for the white supremacist movement. 28: The number stands for the name “Blood & Honour” because B is the 2nd letter of the alphabet and H is the 8th letter. Blood & Honour is an international neo-Nazi/ racist skinhead group started by British white supremacist and singer Ian Stuart.
    [Show full text]
  • RJ '-/~5 J.Tyl3~ C~Py J J
    THE MEDAL OF HO~OR, ARMI•NAVY RJ_ '-/~5 J.tYl3~ c~py J J .. ..• ., .. , ~- ~ ' ' . .,. .. ~ 1:· , , • This Copy of THE' MEDAL OF HONOR BROCHURE ..... is presented .. .... To .. I I .. \ , ,,. ~·' THE MEDAL OF HONOR ... - .. · ~ I . ~~~Army -~ NI)YJ • i . , Soldiers, Sailors and AfatiJJes South Carolina 'I. Reference-Official Publications of The Deparbnent of the Army and Navy, 1948 .. Compiled from the records of the Adjutant Gencrars Office by Major Gen. ]ames C. Dozier, The Adjutant General , , . --- .• ... ,,. ~·• •J l .,., PROLOGUE ~, ... I • .. i -- Incarnate in the Stars and Stripes are the ideals, aspirations and prin- ciples of a free-minded people. When the Star Spangled Banner was first flown at the head of the Continental Army, General George Washington I said: "We take "the stars from Heaven, the red from our mother country_. separating it by white stripes. thus showing that we have separated from_ her, and the white stripes shall go down to posterity representing libe.~:ty " As with a precious gem, the facets of liberty cannot be brought to their greatest brilliance without friction. Neither can the character of a man 'or•2r nation be rounded to usefulness and charity without the tempering process of trial. Our iH:riiage from the Wars ior Independence is not a stat1c treeaom. That heritage is the privilege to work for freedom-the daily opportunity to deserve it. The struggle to create and pass on this birthright is symbolized in the Medal of Honor. Inherent in this honored medal or the wonder of America, the assurance of her proper destiny and the promise of her mag­ nanimity to the weak or the conquered.
    [Show full text]
  • German Captured Documents Collection
    German Captured Documents Collection A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress Prepared by Allan Teichroew, Fred Bauman, Karen Stuart, and other Manuscript Division Staff with the assistance of David Morris and Alex Sorenson Manuscript Division, Library of Congress Washington, D.C. 2011 Contact information: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/mss.contact Finding aid encoded by Library of Congress Manuscript Division, 2011 Finding aid URL: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/eadmss.ms011148 Latest revision: 2012 October Collection Summary Title: German Captured Documents Collection Span Dates: 1766-1945 ID No.: MSS22160 Extent: 249,600 items ; 51 containers plus 3 oversize ; 20.5 linear feet ; 508 microfilm reels Language: Collection material in German with some English and French Repository: Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Abstract: German documents captured by American military forces after World War II consisting largely of Nazi Party materials, German government and military records, files of several German officials, and some quasi-governmental records. Much of the material is microfilm of originals returned to Germany. Selected Search Terms The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically therein. People Wiedemann, Fritz, b. 1891. Fritz Wiedemann papers. Organizations Akademie für Deutsches Recht (Germany) Allgemeiner Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund. Deutsches Ausland-Institut. Eher-Verlag. Archiv. Germany. Auswärtiges Amt. Germany. Reichskanzlei. Germany. Reichsministerium für die Besetzten Ostgebiete. Germany. Reichsministerium für Rüstung und Kriegsproduktion. Germany. Reichsministerium für Volksaufklärung und Propaganda.
    [Show full text]
  • Keues FU%KTI'~NEZEICHEN~ KANZLER DES 0Rdef~S VOM
    THE ARCHIVES AND ALL PROPERTIED OF THE AUSTRIAN ORDERS, I.E. -- THE IMPERIAL AUSTRIAN ORDER OF LEOPOLD, THE IMPERIAL AUSTRIAN ORDER OF THE IRON CROWN} AND THE IMPERIAL AUSTRIAN ORDER OF FRANZ JOSEPH~ ARE PRESERVED IN THE HOUBE~ COURT AND STATE ARCHIVES IN VIENNA. THESE ORDERS DO NOT FUNC- TION ANYMORE AND THEREFORE NO 0RDERS--0FFICIALS ARE IN EXISTENCE. THE 0RDERB--JEWELER ROTHE IN VIENNA MANUFACTURES ALL 0RDERB IN ANY FORM -- GOLD~ SILVER--SILT~ OR BONZE--GILT. ONLY THE DECORATIONS OF THE OR- DER OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE ORDER OF THE ~TARRY CROSS HE MAY NOT MAN- UFACTURE WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE RESPECTIVE ORDER GHANCELLORIES. THE HIGHLY NOBLE ORDER OF THE ~TARRY CROSS~ FOR WHICH THE HIGHEST PROTECTRESB IS REGINA - SPOUSE OF 0TTO~ IS STILL IN EXISTENCE AND IS STILL AWARGED. THERE ALSO EXISTS A ~ECRETARY~ GRAF GEORG V0N NOSTITZ-RIENECK. THE ARCHIVES OF THE ORDER OF THE STARRY CROSS ARE HOUSED AT THE AUSTRIAN STATE ARCHIVES~ DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL ADMINISTRATION~ AS THE ARCHIVES OF THE ORDER OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE ARE LOCATED IN THE HOUSE~ COURT AND STATE ARCHIVES. BOTH ARCHIVES ARE ON LOAN~ AND MAY ONLY BE USED WITH SPECIAL PER- MISSION FROM OTTO AND REGINA HABSBURG-LOTHRINGEN. THE METHOD OF PROTOGOL GOES THROUGH THE ORDER GREFFIER AND THE {NTERIM CHANCELLOR OF THE ORDER OF THE GOLDEN. FLEECE~ OR THE SECRETARY OF THE ORDER OF THE ~TARRY CROSS. WHEREAS NO PROOF OF NOBILITY IB NECESSARY FOR THE ORDER OF THE GOLDEN FLEECEs EACH DAME OF THE ORDER OF THE ~TARRY CROSS MUST BE ABLE TO PRODUCE IN HER ANCESTRAL TABLE EIGHT ANCESTORS 0P NOBLE SIRTH~ FOUR ON EACH BIDE.
    [Show full text]
  • Vol. 63, No. 6 (November-December 2012) 17
    show the obverse and reverse of the Bundeswehr version Tank Destruction Badge; of the Iron Cross 1st Class. Figures 41 and 42 show the Close Combat Bar. obverse and reverse of the Bundeswehr Knight’s Cross with swords and oakleaves. The one badge that is conspicuously absent from this list of Third Reich awards permitted to be worn by Bundeswehr personnel is the Anti-Partisan War Badge (Bandenkampfabzeichen). This is probably because the badge was initially created by Heinrich Himmler for Waffen-SS personnel battling guerillas behind the lines on the Eastern Front and in the mountains of the Balkans. Although Wehrmacht (mostly Army but some Air Force) personnel later qualified for the badge, its origins as anSS award and the nature of the fighting for which the badge was awarded probably made it too controversial for de- Nazification and wear in post-1957 German armed forces. In any event, shortly after the de-Nazified awards were authorized for wear, however, the Bundeswehr abolished all full-sized breast badges, and converted them to ribbon bars with a miniature version of the badge superimposed. For example, the Tank Destruction Badge in gold became a gold-colored ribbon with a silver tank. The Tank Destruction Badge in Silver became a silver colored ribbon with a bronze tank on it. Figure 42: Reverse of the Bundeswehr version of the Knight’s Cross. Famous World War II officers serving in theBundeswehr in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, like Luftwaffe Colonel De-nazified awards permitted to be worn by Bundeswehr Erich Hartmann, the greatest aerial ace of all time, were personnel include: frequently seen with wearing the ribbons of these de- Nazified awards on their uniforms.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ostmedaille: Commemoration and Memory of Germany's Eastern Front
    THE OSTMEDAILLE: COMMEMORATION AND MEMORY OF GERMANY'S EASTERN FRONT RYAN SMOLKO March 4, 2017 Sebastián Bianchi Collection 1 The tradition of state or national governments bestowing medals or awards upon their soldiers as symbols of sacrifice, honor, and courage has existed for centuries. Medals and awards demonstrate that a soldier has gone above and beyond, that he is what his country considers an honorable, distinguished serviceman. Awards and medals, however, point as much to the country and government awarding them as they do to the quality of that country’s soldiers. Much like coins, medals contain images of national identity and propaganda.1 The awards a government presents to its soldiers speaks to how the government wants a war or its soldiers’ service to be remembered. The National Socialist government of Nazi Germany was no different; their medals and awards were a form of propaganda, memorializing different battles and fronts in whichever way the Nazi high command desired. The Ostmedaille exemplifies this point. The Ostmedaille, or German Eastern Front medal, serves as a symbol of how the German government wanted people to remember the Second World War on the Russian Front. The design and creation of the medal, as well as German sentiments surrounding the medal, demonstrate both the Nazi and the contemporary German memory of the Eastern Front. 1 There is a long scholarly tradition of coins as a form of propaganda. This is particularly true for ancient coinage, such as Roman coins. Coins were an effective way to spread information to the masses, especially before the advent of radio or newsprint.
    [Show full text]
  • Hanna Reitsch Proposed to Hitler and Göring to Create an All Ladies Fighter Squadron Against the American-British Air Forces' Wholesale Bombing of Germany
    Fig. 208. In the eye of the beholder, interestingly enough, the Swastika forms a Christian Cross with the four points stretched out as well the symbol of the European Union. Fig. 209. Please note (above) - it's the youthful Hanna in this 1936 Olympics Games poster, with Leni Riefenstahl standing behind the Fuhrer, photographing, while Hitler regarded the public with his famous Roman arm salute. Fig. 210. Reitsch (right) is on a Luftwaffe poster dated 1946, with a futuristic model of the Messerschmitt fighter she piloted as a test pilot. In 1943, after the Allies began to step-up their devastating around-the-clock bombing campaign over Germany's cities, the Nazi aviatrix Flugkapitän Hanna Reitsch proposed to Hitler and Göring to create an all ladies fighter squadron against the American-British air forces' wholesale bombing of Germany. She wore her Iron Crosses proudly and wrote her memoirs, Fliegen, mein Leben (1951), which were translated in 1954 as Flying is My Life. In this book she presents herself as a patriot, and makes no moral judgments about Hitler and Nazi Germany. Some call it "an exercise in selective memory, rationalization, and denial". Many ask: was she a Nazi to the end, or just a proud woman? We don't know? . perhaps both! Fig. 211. Luftwaffe Pilot-Observer Badge with Diamonds, this badge belonged to Hermann Göring, and was part of Eric Campion Collection. The lady was a test pilot in the German Air force, Flug-Kapitänin Hanna Reitsch, who flew everything from a V-1 to giant bombers, recognized as the rocket-propelled Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet test pilot for the Air force.
    [Show full text]
  • Hate Symbols Database
    HATE ON DISPLAY™ HATE SYMBOLS DATABASE 1 HATE ON DISPLAY This database provides an overview of many of the symbols most frequently used by a variety of white supremacist groups and movements, as well as some other types of hate groups. You can find the full listings at adl.org/hate-symbols INTRODUCTION TO THE HATE ON DISPLAY HATE SYMBOLS DATABASE ADL is a leading anti-hate organization that was founded in 1913 in response to an escalating climate of anti-Semitism and bigotry. Today, ADL is the first call when acts of anti-Semitism occur and continues to fight all forms of hate. A global leader in exposing extremism, delivering anti-bias education and fighting hate online, ADL’s ultimate goal is a world in which no group or individual suffers from bias, discrimination or hate. ADL’s Center on Extremism debuted its Hate on Display hate symbols database in 2000, establishing the database as the first and foremost resource on the internet for symbols, codes, and memes used by white supremacists and other types of haters. Over the past two decades, Hate on Display has regularly been updated with new symbols and images as they have come into common use by extremists, as well as new functions to make it more useful and convenient for users. Although the database contains many examples of online usage and shared graphics, another feature that makes it unique is its emphasis on real world examples of hate symbols—showing them as extremists actually use them: on signs and clothing, graffiti and jewelry, and even on their own bodies as tattoos and brands.
    [Show full text]
  • Heldenpolitik: Ritterkreuz, Ideology and the Complexities of Hero Culture Under National Socialism
    Heldenpolitik: Ritterkreuz, Ideology and the Complexities of Hero Culture under National Socialism By Colin Gilmour A thesis submitted to McGill University in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy December 2018 Department of History and Classical Studies McGill University Montreal, Quebec ©Colin Gilmour 2018 i Abstract This dissertation explores the political history of Germany’s highest award for military excellence during the Second World War: the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, or “Ritterkreuz.” Expanding upon a limited foundation of existing scholarly research, its primary focus is to examine the role played by this famous medal as a vessel of “symbolic capital” for the National Socialist regime. Designed not only as a tool to help forge a new archetype for military heroism, it was also to represent the “revolution” that the Party claimed to have produced in German society and politics. Using this function as a framework, the component chapters of this study document different ways in which it informed or affected official usages of the Ritterkreuz and the activities of its recipients – called “Ritterkreuzträger” – during the war years. Through this investigation, the dissertation argues that while achieving an impact on wartime culture that continues to be felt in Germany today, both medal and men proved as much a source of frustration and embarrassment to the regime as they did ideological success. As such, it challenges several existing assumptions regarding the role of orders and decorations created by National Socialism while highlighting an underrecognized layer of complexity in its “Heldenpolitik” (Hero Politics). ii Résumé Cette thèse explore l'histoire politique de la plus haute distinction militaire accordée en Allemagne durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale : la croix de chevalier de la croix de fer, la « Ritterkreuz ».
    [Show full text]
  • Vol. 62, No. 6 (November-December 2011) 5 Anhalt
    in 1934. An example of an "added-on medal can be seen mostly below NCO in rank, although some of the medals in Figure 10. were actually awarded to men ranking from private on up. For information on the states, refer to Janet and Joe The Iron Cross Second Class originally dates to the Robinson’s Handbook ofImperial Germany. This book is Napoleonic Wars. It was reinstituted for the Franco- filled with excellent information on each of the respective Prussian War in 1870 and yet again in 1914 for World War states and more. An interesting aspect when looking at I. Over five million were awarded. There were numerous a German trio is the population of each of the states that makers who followed strict parameters so that all would can give an idea of scarcity or rarity. be uniformly made. Most, but iaot all, iron crosses were made of iron and are magnetic. It takes precedence over The third medal in the trio is officially a Third Reich state medals and the Cross of Honor, but there are times medal that came out in1934. In 1933, when Hitler became when a medal bar with a state medal preceding the Iron Reichs Chancellor, he arranged for President Paul von Cross, 2nd Class is encountered. The majority of them Hindenburg to institute a national award, The Cross of seem to have been made for proud Bavarians and Saxons, Honor 1914 - 1918 as a way of recognizing World War but as is always the case when people are involved, I service and reining in the myriad of veteran’s medals.
    [Show full text]
  • North Woods History Honours 27Th March 2019 Dressing the Reich: the Fear and Elegance in Nazi Uniforms Germany Was a Nation Both Clad and Obsessed with the Uniform
    Woods 1 North Woods History Honours 27th March 2019 Dressing the Reich: The Fear and Elegance in Nazi Uniforms Germany was a nation both clad and obsessed with the uniform. Brian L. Davis, a uniform historian describes 240 different uniforms from the time of the Third Reich era. From coal miners, to Post Office employees, all the way up the Nazi hierarchy to Adolf Hitler himself, every man in the Reich had a uniform, in an “appeal to male vanity.”1 Bernhard Teicher, in his memoir, writes of his time as a young soldier in Nazi Germany, “Of course, we were issued uniforms (ideally everybody in the Nazi Reich should have worn a uniform!).”2 The Nazi Party’s ​ ​ desire for uniformity of thought and support extended directly to the propagandistic powers of the clothes that bore the Nazi insignia on the backs the German citizenry. True to its latin root ‘uni,’ the uniform served as a unifier in Nazi Germany. Adolf Hitler believed that he was not a politician, but an artist at heart.3 In Thomas Mann’s 1938 essay, Brother Hitler, Mann asks in regard to Hitler and Nazism, “how can we fail ​ ​ to recognise in this phenomenon a sign of artistry?”4 From 1933 to 1945, this artistry would come to dominate Nazi rule; from architecture, to ceremony, to style and fashion. This artistry was heavily applied by the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda to create and use new techniques in propaganda to market the ideologies of the Third Reich. Although propaganda was not exclusive to the Nazis, their dedication to the art of political marketing was a novel approach to the dissemination of ideological, political and militaristic values within the German, European and world citizenry.
    [Show full text]