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Standard, most basic form of the Iron Cross. The Iron Cross (German: Eisernes Kreuz, listen ⓘ, abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and Nazi Germany (1933–1945).
Iron Cross, , Prussian military decoration instituted in 1813 by Frederick William III for distinguished service in the Prussian War of Liberation. Use of the decoration was revived by William I for the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, recreated in 1914 for World War I , and last revived by Adolf Hitler on Sept. 1, 1939, the same day that German ...
Origin or the German Iron Cross The Iron Cross was conceived and designed in 1813 by Karl Friedrich Schinkel , one of the most famous architects of his time in Prussia. The decoration consists of four symmetrical flared points and is directly inspired by the emblem of the Teutonic knights.
The West German military, the Bundeswehr, adopted the Iron Cross as its official insignia in 1955. Following German participation in the NATO-led missions in Kosovo and Afghanistan , pressure mounted on the government in Berlin to reinstate the Iron Cross as a medal.
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), or simply the Knight's Cross (Ritterkreuz), and its variants, were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.
German law prohibits the wearing of a swastika, so in 1957 the West German government authorized replacement Iron Crosses with an Oak Leaf Cluster in place of the swastika, similar to the Iron Crosses of 1813, 1870, and 1914, which could be worn by World War II Iron Cross recipients.
Explore the significance, design, and legacy of the German Iron Cross, a pivotal military decoration that shaped military culture and identity across Europe.
The Iron Cross, being one of the most prestigious military decorations in German history, has had several different classes and variations – each with its own criteria and significance. Here are the main types of Iron Crosses and the time periods to which they belong:
The Iron Cross is indisputably the most historically rich and notorious German award. Its long tradition dates back to 1813, when King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia first instituted the order during the War of Liberation against Napoleon.
The Iron Cross, or Eisernes Kreuz, is one of the most recognized and storied medals in German history. Originally established in 1813 by King Frederick William III of Prussia, the Iron Cross has symbolized valor, bravery, and loyalty throughout various periods of German history.