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. An example of a post- Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (all grades); 1957 ribbon set worn by a Bundeswehr officer awarded Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross; many decorations and badges during World War II is at German Cross; Figure 43. The ribbon set belonged to Hans Roeger, who Roll of Honor Emblems for the Army, Navy and Air served as a Panzergrenadier NCO (Oberfeldwebel) in Force; Iron Cross, 1st Class and 2nd Class; World War II. His 13 ribbons are (top to bottom, left to War Merit Cross, 1st and 2nd Class; right): (1) Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross; (2) Roll of Wound Badges (Gold, Silver, Black); Honor Emblem for the Army; (3) Iron Cross 1st Class; (4) Infantry Assault Badge; Iron Cross 2d Class; (5) Close Combat Clasp (in bronze); General Assault Badge; (6) Wound Badge (in silver); (7) – (10) four awards of the Tank Assault Badge; Single Handed Destruction of a Tank Badge (in silver); Figure 43: Ribbon set worn by Bundeswehr officer. Vol. 63, No. 6 (November-December 2012) 17 (11) Infantry Assault Badge; (12) East [Front] Medal is yet a smaller cross pattée, which is surrounded by a 1941/42; and (13) DLR Sport Badge. wreath of oakleaves. The German eagle is superimposed on this smaller cross. The cross planchet is suspended In 1980, when the Bundeswehr celebrated its 25th from a black ribbon edged in gold and red; these colors anniversary, Minister of Defense Hans Apel announced represent the flag of the German Federal Republic. The that the German Armed Forces was to have its first design of the Cross of Honor for Bravery (the highest post-World War II military decoration: the Badge of grade) and the Cross of Honor in Gold for Oustanding Honor of the German Armed Forces (Ehrenzeichen der Deeds (the next higher grade) are the same, except that the Bundeswehr). The first Badges of Honor were awarded former has a cluster of double-sided oak leaves attached on November 6, 1980 and awards continue to be made to its ribbon and the cross pattée of the latter is edged in on a regular basis to soldiers of the German armed forces, red enamel. Figure 44 depicts the obverse of the Cross allied nations, and civilians for outstanding service to the of Honor for Bravery; note the emblem on the ribbon. German armed forces. In 2008, a major evolution in the Badge of Honor occurred when the decoration was “expanded” to seven grades. This expansion occurred in response, at least in part, to petitions from German citizens and civic organizations that the Iron Cross be restored as a military award for Bundeswehr personnel. While the German Minister of Defense declined to resurrect the Iron Cross, he did recognize that the presence of German soldiers in Afghanistan required additional awards for both gallantry and service. The seven grades of the Badge of Honor (now the Cross/Medal of Honor) are: Cross of Honor of the German Armed Forces for Bravery Cross of Honor of the German Armed Forces in Gold for Outstanding Deeds Cross of Honor of the German Armed Forces In Gold Cross of Honor of the German Armed Forces in Silver for Outstanding Deeds Cross of Honor of the German Armed Forces in Silver Cross of Honor of the German Armed Forces in Bronze Medal of Honor of the German Armed Forces Unlike the awards system in place from 1939 to 1945, Figure 44: Obverse of the Cross of Honor which required a German soldier to be awarded the lower of the German Armed Forces for Bravery. grade of a decoration before he could receive a higher grade (i.e. the Iron Cross 2nd Class was a prerequisite The first four German soldiers to be awarded the bravery for the Iron Cross 1st Class, and both were required grade of the new decoration received their awards “for before a soldier could receive the Knight’s Cross), there bravery in a life-threatening situation” in Afghanistan is no requirement for a Bundeswehr trooper to receive a in October 2008. Chancellor Angela Merkel personally lower grade of the Cross of Honor before being awarded presented the awards to: a higher grade. Additionally, all grades of the Cross of Honor/Medal of Honor may be worn at the same time. Sergeant 1st Class Jan Berges, Paratrooper Battalion 263 Sergeant 1st Class Alexander Dietzen, Paratrooper Cross of Honor of the German Armed Forces for Battalion 263 Bravery (Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr für Tapferkeit). Sergeant 1st Class Henry Lukàcs, Paratrooper Battalion Equivalent to the United States Medal of Honor, this is the 263 highest combat gallantry award and is reserved “for valor Sergeant 1st Class Markus Geist, Paratrooper Battalion beyond the call of duty.” The Cross of Honor for Bravery 263 is a gold-colored cross pattée, within which is outlined a second cross pattée. In the center of these two crosses On 20 October 2008, a suicide bomber attacked a German unit patrolling near Kunduz, Afghanistan. The vehicle 18 JOMSA carrying the Germans caught fire and large quantities of Private First Class Martin Augustyniak, Paratrooper ammunition exploded, killing one German soldier and Battalion 373 (posthumous) five Afghan children. Three other soldiers and another child were badly injured. At the risk of their own lives, After their parachute infantry platoon of 32 men was Sergeants Berges, Dietzen, Lukàcs, and Geist rushed to ambushed during a search for improvised explosive aid the victims of the attack and rescued two German devices in Chardara, Afghanistan, the Germans fought soldiers and one child. off a force three times their size. After nine hours of combat, most members of the platoon had been wounded. Less than a year later, three more soldiers were awarded The six soldiers awarded the Cross of Honor for Bravery the Cross of Honor for Bravery “for conspicuous gallantry were cited for their “great courage” and “self-sacrifice.” in combat.” They were: A photograph of Master Sergeant Pordzik’s uniform, showing his Cross of Honor for Bravery, is at Figure 45. Master Sergeant Daniel Siebert, Mechanized Infantry Battalion 212 Master Sergeant Jan Hecht, Mechanized Infantry Battalion 391 Colonel Adolf Schrodinger, Light Infantry Battalion 291 On June 4, 2009, Siebert was the squad leader and Hecht was the platoon leader when they led their unit to rescue a small reconnaissance team surrounded by an overwhelming insurgent force near Basoz, Afghanistan. The Germans, still greatly outnumbered, managed to defeat their attackers in close combat that resulted in scores of insurgents killed but no German casualties. In a separate incident, Colonel Schrodinger’s unit was attacked at 2 a.m. by more than 110 guerillas. Schrodinger was wounded in the right leg and right arm, but he and Figure 45: Cross of Honor for Bravery worn his men secured an Afghan compound and killed 77 by Master Sergeant Pordzik. insurgents. There were no German casualties. Finally, on October 7, 2010, Lieutenant Colonel Jared Three days later, on June 7, 2009, another non- Sembirtzki was awarded the Cross of Honor for Bravery commissioned officer was awarded the Cross of Honor “for conspicuous gallantry in combat” while leading his for Bravery “for conspicuous gallantry in combat.” Staff battalion during an insurgent assault on their combat Sergeant Steffen Knoska, Air Assault Regiment 1, serving outpost near Shahabuddin, Afghanistan. Although under as a squad leader, led his soldiers in a firefight with intense enemy fire, Sembirtzki’s courage was critical to insurgents near Kunduz, Afghanistan. When a German the successful defense of the outpost and this averted a soldier was seriously wounded by enemy fire, Knoska possible threat to coalition efforts in the entire province. charged into incoming fire and, despite being struck in the helmet by a bullet, brought the helpless soldier to safety. Cross of Honor of the German Armed Forces in Gold for Outstanding Acts (Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr in The following year, on April 2, 2010, six soldiers were Gold für besonders herausragende Taten).