The Iron Cross (or Eisernes Kreuz, EK, in German) is a military decoration of the Kingdom of Prussia (and later the German Empire 1871–1918 and Nazi Germany 1933–1945.
It was established by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia in March 1813 and backdated to the birthday of his late wife Queen Louise on 10 March 1813 during the Napoleonic Wars. Louise was the first person to receive this decoration (posthumous).
The Iron Cross was normally a military decoration only, though there were instances of it being awarded to civilians for performing military functions.
The Iron Cross Design
The design of the cross symbol is black with a white or silver outline, and was ultimately derived from the cross pattée of the Teutonic Order, used by knights on occasions from the 13th century.
It was designed by neoclassical architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel, based on a sketch by Frederick William. This heraldic cross took various forms throughout the order’s history, including a simple Latin cross, a cross potent, cross fleury and occasionally also a cross pattée.
The ribbon for the 1813 EK was black with two thin white bands, the colors of Prussia. The non-combatant version of this award had the same medal, but the black and white colors on the ribbon were reversed.
Medal Variations
The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross
The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest grade Nazi decoration above the various classes of the Knight’s Cross.
The Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (Nazi)
The Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest military decoration of the Kingdom of Prussia and the German Empire.
The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (EK 1939)
The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest military and paramilitary award for the forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.
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Further Reading About the Iron Cross
Discover the stories behind the Iron Cross with these compelling books and delve into the rich history and significance of this prestigious military decoration.
