German Cross

military award of Nazi Germany in Gold or Silver (1941-1945)

Key facts

Type: Military Order
Awarded for: Gold: for repeated exceptional acts of bravery or troop leadership, Silver: for continued distinguished acts of service in the war effort
Presented by: Nazi Germany
Eligibility: Military personnel
Campaign: World War II
Status: Obsolete
Established: 28 September 1941
Total: ~25,964 in Gold, ~ 2,471 in Silver
Next lower: Iron Cross (1939) 1st Class, Clasp to the Iron Cross , 1st Class, War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords

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Wikidata facts

Image: DeutschesKreuzinGoldStoff.jpg

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Commons category: Deutsches Kreuz
inception: 1941-09-28
native label: Der Kriegsorden des Deutschen Kreuzes

Sources (5)

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Article

The War Order of the German Cross (German: Der Kriegsorden Deutsches Kreuz), normally abbreviated to the German Cross or Deutsches Kreuz, was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941. It was awarded in two divisions: in gold for repeated acts of bravery or military leadership; and in silver for distinguished non-combat war service. The German Cross in Gold ranked higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, while the German Cross in Silver ranked higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords.

Eligibility