Hello all. This might be a dumb question, and I’ve tried to google an answer but haven’t been particularly successful. More specifically, if a soldier received an Iron Cross 2nd and 1st class in WWI, would it have been possible for the same soldier to receive another Iron Cross 1st Class during WW2, does anyone know, please?
Not as such. I f you had received either of the two classes in WWI and you would have received the same award in WWII you were awarded the 1939 Spange which would be worn on the ribbon of the 1914 Iron Cross. The 1914 ribbon would normally be seen worn looped on the second buttonhole.
The Spange worn on the ribbon would of been for the repeat winning of the EK II (the Spange representing the WW2 version.) If the EK-I was then awarded and he had already won it during WW-1, a different version of the Spange would be worn above the WW-1 EK-I.
Thanks very much steelers and hucks - and for the images. I realise now that there does seem to be a spange on the button ribbon in the image I have. Does this mean a soldier would always have to receive a repeat EK-2 spange before they could receive a repeat EK-1, do you know?
Found this fascinating on attempting (unsuccessfully) to dig into it. Realised my understanding of German 'bars' & if they even existed is virtually nil.
Here's a photo of Mannerheim. He has spanges for his Iron Crosses. As Finland was part of Russia until 1917 , I assume he was awarded his earlier Iron Crosses during the Civil War when the Germans supported the Whites ? https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Carl_Gustaf_Emil_Mannerheim.jpg
The EK was donated four times by the respective heads of state on the occasion of a war between 1813 and 1939 (Napoleonic Wars of Liberation, Prussian-French War, WWI, WWII). Each time one could be acquired - thus purely theoretically four times (if someone had lived so long). With each renewed award no new EK was given, but a repetition clasp, which was to be worn on the ribbon or directly above the original cross. Mannerheim received EK II and EK I in WWI and WWII respectively. In WWI presumably after the Baltic Division under Rüdiger von der Goltz landed in southern Finland in early April 1918 to fight on Mannerheim's side in the Civil War. This intervention, however, involved far-reaching concessions to the German Empire, much to Mannerheim's displeasure. The orders were therefore probably also intended as appeasement. (By the way, they could only be awarded to foreigners since 1915).