What was the Iron Cross 2nd class?

What was the Iron Cross 2nd class?

The Iron Cross 2nd Class was the first grade within the Iron Cross that was to be obtained for an individual act of bravery. The official criteria were the individual and single act of bravery in the face of the enemy or actions that were above and beyond the normal call of duty.

What is the difference between Iron Cross 1st and 2nd class?

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.

Do German soldiers still get the Iron Cross?

More than six decades after its end, though, Germany has reintroduced military honors: A politically correct, newly minted version of the Iron Cross – awarded to German soldiers since 1813, but withdrawn after the Second World War – was pinned on the chests of four senior non-commissioned officers yesterday.

How do you authenticate the German Iron Cross?

Another way to to look at an Iron Cross if you pick one up it’s made of iron. It’s got German silver. And if you grab ahold of one you can’t bend it.

What was the highest German medal in ww2?

The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross

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.

What was Hitler’s real name?

Adolf Hitler was born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau am Inn, a small Austrian town near the Austro-German frontier. After his father, Alois, retired as a state customs official, young Adolf spent most of his childhood in Linz, the capital of Upper Austria.

How did you get an Iron Cross first class?

The 1st Class of the Iron Cross was presented more scarcely, and logically held a correspondingly higher level of stature than the second class. In order to receive the Iron Cross 1st Class Heer and Waffen SS men would have to perform three to four further acts of courage from the one that earned him the 2nd Class.

How much does an Iron Cross weigh?

Enhance your purchase

Does Germany still pay reparations?

This still left Germany with debts it had incurred in order to finance the reparations, and these were revised by the Agreement on German External Debts in 1953. After another pause pending the reunification of Germany, the last installment of these debt repayments was paid on 3 October 2010.

How many iron crosses are there?

Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross

Where is the makers mark on a iron cross?

If present the manufacturer’s mark is found on either side of the pin, or on the reverse of the cross either at the lower arm or the center. As in the case of the 2nd Class, unmarked crosses are perfectly normal if a little less desired by the average collector. Below is a database of known makers with photographs.

How can you tell if war medals are real?

You can identify re-named medals by looking at the cross-section of the lower rim. If it appears thinner than other areas of the medal, this could mean the metal was removed – and so was the original naming.

Who was the most decorated German soldier in World War II?

Hans-Ulrich Rudel
Hans-Ulrich Rudel was a German ground-attack pilot, and the most decorated German serviceman of World War II, being the sole recipient of the Knight’s Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds.

How can you tell if ww2 medals are real?

It has a diameter of 35.5 mm rather than 36.5 mm. On the obverse, the rim is rather unevenly cast around them medal, so that field rises up to the rim on the left side. On the reverse, the rim on the immediate right of the clasp is thinner (Fig 4), presumably where the word ‘copy’ has been polished off.

What was Hitler’s net worth?

In addition, he refused to pay income tax. He used his vast wealth—which some estimated was about $5 billion—to amass an extensive art collection, purchase fine furnishings, and acquire various properties. After the war, his estate was given to Bavaria.

Who is Adolf Hitler’s son?

It is alleged that Hitler had a son, Jean-Marie Loret, with a Frenchwoman named Charlotte Lobjoie. Jean-Marie Loret was born in March 1918 and died in 1985, aged 67. Loret married several times, and had as many as nine children.

How many different iron crosses are there?

Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross

How strong do you have to be to do an Iron Cross?

Judging from said experience, developing the cross should take a person with average pull-up strength of about 8-10 repetitions, good conditioning of the elbows and shoulders, and a light body frame—150 lbs or less—around 12-36 months.

How many Germans were executed after WW2?

Ten prominent members of the political and military leadership of Nazi Germany were executed by hanging: Hans Frank, Wilhelm Frick, Alfred Jodl, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, Wilhelm Keitel, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Alfred Rosenberg, Fritz Sauckel, Arthur Seyss-Inquart, and Julius Streicher.

What was Hitler’s reaction to Pearl Harbor?

When informed in his headquarters on the evening of Dec. 7 of the strike and the damage suffered by US forces, he was “delighted,” according to British historian Ian Kershaw. “We can’t lose the war at all. We now have an ally which has never been conquered in 3,000 years,” a jubilant Hitler said, as recounted in Mr.

When was the Iron Cross last awarded?

17 June 1945
A total of 7,321 awards were made between its first presentation on 30 September 1939 and its last bestowal on 17 June 1945. This number is based on the acceptance of the Association of Knight’s Cross Recipients (AKCR).

How high of an award was the Iron Cross?

At the end of 1944 the final grade, the Knight’s Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds, was created. Over 7,000 awards were made during the course of the war.
…
Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross.

Are all iron crosses magnetic?

Not all genuine Iron Crosses are magnetic. Non magnetic versions were often made for the Kriegsmarine, and as cheaper private purchases for field wear. A simple fridge magnet showing you that a cross is magnetic can be a big indicator that you have an original.

Are war medals worth anything?

Put simply, yes! War medals are worth money, but how much you make when selling them depends on a lot of factors. If your medals are in great condition they will make more money than if they are damaged. If you have the original papers and presentation boxes that go with your medals they will also be worth more.

What do I do with old war medals?

Replacing Military Medals
Medals awarded while in active service are issued by the individual military services if requested by Veterans or their next of kin. Requests for replacement medals, decorations, and awards should be directed to the branch of the military in which the Veteran served.