Iron Cross facts for kids

Various iterations from 1813 to 1870

The Iron Cross was a medal given to German soldiers for bravery during wartime. The award was created by King Frederick William III of Prussia. It was first given out on 10 March 1813. The Iron Cross was awarded during the Napoleonic Wars, the Franco-Prussian War, the First World War, and the Second World War. This medal was received by Adolf Hitler after World War I.

The medal is only given in wartime, so no Iron Crosses have been given out since the end of the Second World War in 1945. The Iron Cross 1st Class was a pin-on medal with no ribbon and was worn centered on a uniform breast pocket, either on dress uniforms or everyday outfit. It was a progressive award, with the second class having to be earned before the first class and so on for the higher degrees.

It is estimated that some four and a half million 2nd Class Iron Crosses were awarded during World War II, and 300,000 of the 1st Class. Two Iron Cross 1st Class recipients were women, one of whom was test pilot Hanna Reitsch.

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

During the Second World War an extra type of Iron Cross medal was given. It was the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and was given for acts of extreme battlefield bravery or successful leadership. The Knight's Cross was divided into five grades:

1. Knight's Cross
2. Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
3. Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
4. Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds
5. Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds

Images for kids

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  Iron Cross 1st Class of the Napoleonic Wars, in its original form of 1 June 1813, obverse side

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  Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross

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  Herman von Salza, the 4th Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights (1209–1239)

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  King Frederick William III of Prussia, creator of the award

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  Field Marshal Blücher wearing the 1813 Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (around his neck), and the Star (on his chest)

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  King Wilhelm I of Prussia wearing the 1813 Iron Cross 2nd class (with ribbon), 1870 Iron Cross 1st class (on his chest) and the larger Grand Cross, awarded in 1871

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  1914 Iron Cross

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  World War I Iron Cross, 2nd Class

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  Certificate of award to a musketeer in the Royal Prussian Landwehr, October 1918

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  German soldiers who had been awarded the Iron Cross

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  World War II Iron Cross 1st class with certificate

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  Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

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  1914 Grand Cross of the Iron Cross

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  Star of the Grand Cross (1939)

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  Badge of Honor of the German Armed Forces

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  Iron Cross insignia on a UAV Barracuda

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  Iron Cross insignia on a German Air Force CH-53G in 2015