The iron cross, although a controversial tattoo design, does not stand for racism, and hence, can be sported by people all over the world. Officers awarded the Iron Cross were given entitlements and often wore signifying articles, such as an Iron Cross signet ring or cloth Iron Cross which could be affixed to clothing. [8] Most photographs of Hitler show him wearing his EKI in standard fashion on his left breast. 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. [7] Exact numbers of awards are not known, since the Prussian military archives were destroyed during World War II. [3] The Iron Cross was awarded to soldiers during the Wars of Liberation against Napoleon. 567 talking about this. During these three periods, the Iron Cross was an award of the Kingdom of Prussia, although—given Prussia's pre-eminent place in the German Empire formed in 1871—it tended to be treated as a generic German decoration. Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (, Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (, Knight's Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (. These recipients were recognized with the award of a clasp featuring a miniaturized 1914 Iron Cross on a metal bar. The Iron Cross 1st Class and the Iron Cross 2nd Class were awarded without regard to rank. iron cross synonyms, iron cross pronunciation, iron cross translation, English dictionary definition of iron cross. [22], The 1957 version of the 1939 Iron Cross with oak leaves replacing the swastika, Badge of Honor of the German Armed Forces, Iron Cross insignia on a German Air Force CH-53G in 2015, Military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1870–1918) and Nazi Germany, Original awards of the Wars of Liberation, The recommissioned Iron Cross for the Franco-Prussian War, Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (1939), Side features of the Iron Cross and entitlements, National Monument for the Liberation Wars, Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby, modern German law prohibits the production of items containing Nazi insignia, Orders, decorations, and medals of Imperial Germany, Orders, decorations, and medals of Nazi Germany, Military History Research Office (Germany), "Security Service Records Release 25–26 November 2002", "Obituary: Surgeon-General W.G.N. In XX century, the Iron Cross, which retained its shape as it was created by Carl Friedrich Schinkel, first became a German award (before that it was exclusively a Prussian award), and then acquired a distinctive feature of the Nazi army - the swastika in the center … As Modern German law prohibits the wearing of a swastika, the West German government authorised replacement Iron Crosses in 1957 with an Oak Leaf Cluster in place of the swastika, similar to the Iron Crosses of 1813, 1870, and 1914, which could be worn by World War II Iron Cross recipients. Sometimes mistaken for the Maltese Cross , the Iron Cross is one of the most visually powerful and recognizable military awards of all time. In the United States, however, the Iron Cross also became one of several Nazi-era symbols adopted by outlaw bikers, more to signify rebellion or to shock than for any white supremacist ideology. The recommissioned Iron Cross was also awarded during the Franco-Prussian War (EK 1870), World War I (EK 1914), and World War II (EK 1939). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, often simply Ritterkreuz) recognized military valour or successful leadership. [15], The Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (also called Iron Cross with Golden Rays) was pinned to the left breast, above the Iron Cross 1st Class.