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Figure 21: Obverse of the German Cross in Gold.

Figure 22: Reverse of the German Cross in Gold.

The central feature of the German Cross was a 21mm black enamel swastika in the center of the eight-pointed breast star. The gold version had a 65 mm circular gold laurel wreath while the silver German Cross had a silver laurel wreath of the same dimensions. Both wreaths had the numeral 1941 at the bottom, reflecting the date of the award’s establishment. About 30,000 German Crosses in Gold were awarded, of which some 17,000 were to the Army and the Waffen-SS. Only 1,200 silver versions were awarded, of which about 900 went to soldiers and Waffen SS-personnel. Figures 21 and 22 show the obverse and reverse, respectively, of the German Cross in gold.

Roll of Honor Emblems for the Army (Ehrensblattspangen das Heer), Navy (Ehrensblattspangen die Kriegsmarine) and Air Force (Ehrensblattspangen die Luftwaffe). During World War II, the three branches of the Wehrmacht, the Army (das Heer), the Navy (die Kriegsmarine) and the Air Force (die Luftwaffe), established Honors Rolls to

record heroic acts performed by their members. Starting in 1944, the three branches authorized Roll of Honor Emblems (Ehrenblattspangen) to recognize those soldiers, sailors and airmen whose names were on the Honors Roll and who had already been awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class. The emblem was a gold wreath of oak leaves, 24mm in diameter. Depending on the branch of service, the center of the emblem was either a swastika (Army), anchor with swastika (Navy), or eagle with swastika (Air Force). These emblems were worn on the buttonhole ribbon of the Iron Cross 2nd Class. The Army awarded about 4,550 emblems; numbers for the Navy and Air Force do not exist.

War Merit Cross (Kriegsverdienstkreuz). In October 1939, Adolf Hitler announced that a new decoration would be awarded to those military and civilian personnel who performed brave acts or wartime meritorious service falling short of that required for the award of the Iron Cross. The Kriegsverdienstkreuz (KVK) was a cross-shaped medal of eight points with narrow, straight widening arms. A swastika surrounded by a circular oak wreath was centered in the middle of the obverse and the numerals 1939 were centered on the reverse.

The KVK came in two classes, both of which could be awarded with or without swords. The award for swords was restricted to those who had served bravely in combat. The decoration without swords was for outstanding service not in direct combat. The KVK with swords had a pair of crossed swords set in the angles of the cross. The decoration without swords was simply the plain cross. The 1st class badge measured about 48mm by 48mm and was affixed to the left pocket of the uniform. The 2nd Class medal was the same size and was worn on the left breast from a red, white and black ribbon. When only

Figure 23: Obverse of the War Merit Cross, 1st Classwith Swords.

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the ribbon of the KVK was worn, those who had received the decoration “with swords” wore a small emblem of crossed swords on the ribbon. Figures 23 and 24 show the obverse and reverse, respectively, of the KVK 1st Class.

On August 19, 1940 Hitler authorized a higher class of the KVK. This new decoration, called the Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross (Ritterkreuz des Kriegsverdienstkreuzes) with or without swords, was a 52mm by 52mm silver metal KVK badge worn at the neck on a 45mm ribbon. The ribbon was black white and red edges. The Knight’s Cross version was for award to Wehrmacht personnel, including civilians, who made significant contributions to the war effort but who nonetheless fell short of the level required for the award of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. The first Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross was awarded in May 1942 to Franz Hahne, who was a bureau chief in the Wehrmacht Ministry of Armaments. By the end of the war, a total of 118 awards with swords and 137 awards without swords had been made. The Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross is one of the rarest German military decorations of World War II.

About 500,000 awards of the KVK 1st Class with swords and 100,000 without swords were made during World War II. Some six million KVKs 2nd Class with swords were awarded between 1940 and 1945, and 1.6 million without swords. One of the more interesting recipients of the KVK was William Joyce, or “Lord Haw-Haw” as he was known to all who heard him on English-language German radio broadcasts during World War II. Joyce was awarded his KVK 1st Class in September 1944 for his service in support of the German Ministry of Propaganda.

While technically considered badges rather than medals, close combat bars, assault badges, and wounded badges

had a level of prestige equal to decorations. Additionally, as the German Federal Republic converted most of these badges into decorations after 1957 (by placing a miniature of the relevant badge on a ribbon), they deserve examination here.5

Figure 25: Obverse of the Infantry Assault Badge.

Infantry Assault Badge (Infanterie Sturmabzeichen). Established on December 30, 1939, the Infantry Assault Badge was a 60mm by 45mm breast badge consisting of a wreath with a rifle and bayonet, surmounted by an eagle and swastika. It was awarded only to infantry and mountain infantry soldiers and required the recipient to have participated in infantry assaults on at least three different days. The badge came in silver, but in 1940 a bronze version was authorized for motorized infantrymen. Figure 25 shows the obverse of the Infantry Assault Badge and Figure 26 depicts the reverse.

Figure 24: Reverse of the War Merit Cross, 1st Class with Swords.

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Figure 26: Reverse of the Infantry Assault Badge.

Figure 27: Obverse of the Tank Battle Badge.

Tank Battle Badge (Panzerkampfabzeichen). Established on the same date as the Infantry Assault Badge and roughly the same size, the Tank Battle Badge was an oval wreath surrounding a tank moving forward at an angle, and surmounted by an eagle and swastika. Originally it was awarded in silver to tank crews only for participation in three engagements on different days. In 1940 a bronze version was authorized for all other armored vehicle crewmen. In June 1943 the badge was further modified with the addition of numerals at the base of the wreath indication participation in 25, 50, 75, or 100 tank battles. Figures 27 and 28 show the obverse and reverse of the Tank Battle Badge in bronze.

Figure 28: Reverse of the Tank Battle Badge.

Figure 29: Obverse of the General Assault Badge.

Figure 30: Reverse of the General Assault Badge.