This is an excellent and most comprehensive book about the history of the Iron Cross. All grades of the Iron Cross--and tells you when and by whom this cross was approved, designed by, manufactured by, etc etc etc.

Gives tons of back ground history and is an all around and VERY welldone book on the subject matter of Germanys most famous Wartime award in all of its different classes.

Includes tons of info on:
Iron Cross 2nd Class
Iron Cross 1st Class
Knights Cross of the Iron Cross
Grand Cross of the Iron Cross
and the Bluchern Stern.

Includes much much more--which I have yet to get to as I am currently only on page 25 of 457.

I highly recommend this book if you can afford the asking price which is over $100.00.

I cant afford it--which is why I borrowed this one from Greg.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Carl,

as you have a book with such information, could you check up if it has the info we were wondering a while ago, how did Hitler decide that with Knight´s Cross the next stage is Oak Leaves, then the Swords and finally Brilliants? Does it have some historical background or did Hitler just decide that this is how it goes?
Thanx!

[img]smile.gif[/img]

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Hi Kai--im hoping that info is in this book and ill see if I can find this out for you--im curious as well. I think the Oak Leaves as the next grade has to do with the hidtory of the Iron Cross itself--as it is in a "T" shape of three Oak Leaves--which you see on all the backs of all Iron Crosses--excepy the 1957 reissue pieces--as that is now the front side.

Anyway--let me see what I can find out and ill be glad to let you know. This book is full of tons on great info.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Carl- Do you think it is also useful for fake detection? Are there makers marks in it and that kind of info?

Hi Volkbert--I think it is a great source for fake detection. There are many many examples shown in it and there is a listing for all makers codes and such. Also I posted in I think in the General WW2 forum--a listing of EK makers in it--as well as most of the War Badges etc.

I think this book might have more EK makers in here but ill check and compare with that other list. Martin Bull used that list and found out who the manufacturer of his EK was--I think his EK was 65 marked--if im not mistaken.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

OK Kai, heres what I gathered from what little was said about their institution in ww2.

Oak Leaves:

First off--a brief background on Oak Leaves.

In Imperial times--the Oak Leaves were awarded to the Pour Le Merite and Red Eagle Order.

The Oak Leaf Cluster in the times of the Kaisers--had been around since about 1849?. Im Imperial times--the vast majority who were awarded the Oak Leaves--were recipients for House Orders and were very high ranking officers and Royalty.

Now that it was reinstituted for ww2 on June 3 1940. It doesnt tell exactly why these were used except what I gather is that it was included along with the Swords and then the Diamonds--so that the common soldier could possibly win the Oaks--and a bit easier and so that it wasnt just for the high rankers like in the Imperial days.

Basically--each additional award--being the Oak Leaves--Swords--Diamonds--were actually because it was felt that the soldier did another act that warrented the awarding of the Knights Cross a 2nd time--i.e--the Oak Leaves, a 3rd "award" of the Knights Cross was the Swords--and a 4th "award" of the Rk was the Diamonds. Only one man was "awarded" the Rk a 5th time--and that was Rudel--with the Golden Oak Leaves.

Basically the addirional awards--Oak Leaves--Swords and Diamonds--allowed the common man to share in the glory.

I cant find any specific reason why Swords were included except also as that they were used on high Imperial Awards as well. I dont know the reason for the Diamonds--except as a final or near final award for the Knights Cross.

Now as for Hans-Ulrich Rudels Golden Oak Leaves--his was meant to be only 1 of a VERYfew--or only a 1 of a kind award.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Upon further reading--I think the Swords were added sometime late 1940 or mid 1941--because Adolf Ferdinand Galland was the first recipient of the Swords. He was awarded the Swords on June 21 1941 for 69 kills. Next were Werner Molders on June 22 1941 and Walter Oesau on July 16 1941.

Doesnt state why the swords were picked but I can only guess that it is because of their usage during the Imperial times.

Ok Hitler chose to institute the Diamonds on July 15 1941--in which the first awarding of them went to Werner Molders--on the first day. Adolf Galland was the 2nd recipient of the Diamonds--presented to him by Hitler on January 28 1942 at the rank of Oberst.

By the wars end--the Germans had planned on having only 100 awards of the Diamonds.

The Golden Oak Leaves and Swords were to be awarded no more than 12 times.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Thats interesting-that Galland got the Swords before Molders, but Molders bypassed him with the award of the Diamonds...

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"GARRY OWEN"-Traditional war-cry of the US 7th Cavalry.
"CURRAHEE"-War-cry of the US 506th PIR.
"Everybody thinks that they are going to get the chance to punch some Nazi in the face at Normandy-and those days are over, they are long gone"-Lt Chris Burnett

Yep and check this out. In ww1--General Ludendorff was the first recipient of the Gross Kreuz, but was the last to actually recieve his decoration. Ludendorff was awarded this I think in 1914 and was the last of 5 recipients to get his actual award--which he finally got I think in October 1918.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Thanx Carl,

as this did stay on one´s mind on and on...

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Not a problem my friend--I gotta keep in practice doing some real research

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Knight´s Cross and Oak leaves etc...

Check the info above and also from the link...

http://www.uboataces.com/knights-cross.shtml

Just thought it was a great time to for the info to resurface.

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