(Kriegsorden des Deutschen Kreuzes)

Date Instituted

28 September 1941

Requirements

* Awarded the War Merit Cross 1st Class
* Repeated acts above and beyond the call of duty

Number awarded

1.114

Recipients

Holders of the German Cross in Gold & Silver
Holders of the German Cross in Silver of the SS & Polizei

The holders of this award are listed on the individual unit histories as part of the Holders of high awards project.

Known makers/markings

1, 4, 20, 21, 134

Estimated price (2009)

€2.200-3.300


Major Friedrich Bader wearing both classes of the German Cross

(Courtesy of Anton)

Comments

A cloth version also existed

It ranked between the War Merit Cross 1st Class and the Knights Cross to the War Merit Cross.

It was designed by Professor Klein.

The OBdW blocked the awarding of the German Cross in Silver from 3 May 1944 until 8 June 1944.

Photo courtesy of N & T Global Trading, Relics of the Reich & The Ruptured Duck

Sources used

Christopher Ailsby - World War 2 German medals and political awards
John R. Angolia - For Führer and Fatherland: Military awards of the Third Reich
David Littlejohn - Orders, decorations, medals and badges of the Third Reich
Detlev Niemann - Price Guide Germany 1871-1945 (2009)