Non Combat EK2 & War Aid Question

[Sevrin]

This bar isn't mine I borrowed the pic from the Reference Thread; but I was wondering about the regulations for both the Non-Combat EK2 & the War Aid Cross. What is the distinction between the two? I've never been quite clear on either of these, as they both vaguely seem to be for rear area service or contributing to the war effort in some way. I believe it's also been said that even the normal EK2 could be awarded for non-combat roles? Maybe I'm over-thinking this, but it is confusing to me. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

James

[Gardereiter]

The Iron Cross 2nd Class on "White ribbon with black edge-stripes" was instituted for non-combatants at the outbreak of WW1. Non-combatants were defined as "Functionaries of the Armed Forces" who were not placed into roles that required fighting the enemy. Examples of these kinds of functionaries included physicians, medical support personnel, veterinarians, military clergymen, military officials & administrators, etc. etc.

The Merit Cross for War Aid Service was instituted in 1916 and was awarded to men and women on the homefront regardless of social status who contributed to war production or provided war-related services "With patriotic zeal" for at least 2 years. It was also awarded to members of the German Red Cross in conjunction with the Red Cross Medal.

Unfortunately, there were high-ranking government officials who used their influence to help award the Iron Cross on Non-Combatant Ribbon to people who were not functionaries of the German Armed forces, thereby circumventing the award criteria. It was a way to award a "More prestigious" decoration than the Merit Cross for War-Aid to well-connected people who really only deserved the Merit Cross for War-Aid Service.

The German Press picked-up on this and began ridiculing the awarding of the Iron Cross on White Ribbon to people who weren't really entitled to it. It was seen as degrading the value and meaning of the Iron Cross to the point that it became a national joke. The Prussian War Ministry eventually put a stop to this but not before the Non-Combatant Iron Cross was awarded to 31 wealthy land-owning aristocrats, 11 wealthy businessmen, 4 pro-war university professors, and 70 civilian physicians.

Regarding the question asked about the Iron Cross on Black Ribbon being awarded to non-combatants... yes, the combatant Iron Cross was awarded to non-combatants about 180 times. It had nothing to do with whether or not the recipient was a member of a combatant or non-combatant military unit. It had to do with whether the recipient performed an act or acts of valor in the face of the enemy. The best known example is when Batallion Chief Surgeon Dr. Kuhn at the Battle of Moeckern ran out into the field and started taking a slew of French cavalrymen as prisoners, some of whom he managed to yank-off their horses. For his actions, this non-combatant doctor was awarded the Iron Cross on Black Ribbon. (It's an instance when the scalpel was mightier than the sword )

[Ian Hulley]

The Iron Cross 2nd Class on "White ribbon with black edge-stripes" was instituted for non-combatants at the outbreak of WW1. Non-combatants were defined as "Functionaries of the Armed Forces" who were not placed into roles that required fighting the enemy. Examples of these kinds of functionaries included physicians, medical support personnel, veterinarians, military clergymen, military officials & administrators, etc. etc.

The Merit Cross for War Aid Service was instituted in 1916 and was awarded to men and women on the homefront regardless of social status who contributed to war production or provided war-related services "With patriotic zeal" for at least 2 years. It was also awarded to members of the German Red Cross in conjunction with the Red Cross Medal.

And as if by magic ... a ribbon bar I won on Ebay yesterday.

Bar.JPG

Bar reverse.JPG

Ian

[Sevrin]

Nice Ian. I have one w/ both EK & War Aid Cross as well. That was what prompted me to start this thread; I was struggling to understand why someone would have both of these.

James

[Sevrin]

The Iron Cross 2nd Class on "White ribbon with black edge-stripes" was instituted for non-combatants at the outbreak of WW1. Non-combatants were defined as "Functionaries of the Armed Forces" who were not placed into roles that required fighting the enemy. Examples of these kinds of functionaries included physicians, medical support personnel, veterinarians, military clergymen, military officials & administrators, etc. etc.

The Merit Cross for War Aid Service was instituted in 1916 and was awarded to men and women on the homefront regardless of social status who contributed to war production or provided war-related services "With patriotic zeal" for at least 2 years. It was also awarded to members of the German Red Cross in conjunction with the Red Cross Medal.

Thank you. That goes a long way in helping me sort these things out. I know a lot about the "what", but there are so many questions often surrounding the "why" we see the combinations we do.

James

[Gardereiter]

And as if by magic ... a ribbon bar I won on Ebay yesterday. Ian

That bar is a perfect example of how the Non-Combatant Iron Cross and the Merit Cross for War-Aid Service can and very often do appear side-by-side. The Non-Combatant Iron Cross indicates that he was a military functionary. The Merit Cross for War-Aid Service (in conjunction with the Red Cross Medal) indicates he was also a member of the German Red Cross. A very nice bar, indeed !!

[Gardereiter]

I have one w/ both EK & War Aid Cross as well. That was what prompted me to start this thread; I was struggling to understand why someone would have both of these.

Let's not forget about the people who started out by supporting the war effort on the homefront and then, as the war raged on, they enlisted in the army and served as military functionaries in a non-combatant capacity. Similarly, let's not forget about the people who started out as military functionaries who then finished their tour of duty and returned home where they continued to support the war-effort in some kind of civilian capacity.

[Ian Hulley]

My other 2 Non-Combatant EKII bars ..

Bars.JPG

Reverse

Bars reverse.JPG

Ian

[HPL2008]

Allow me to add this contribution:

A four-place Bandschleife [ribbon bow] for civilian wear made by Godet with the EK II am weiß-schwarzen Bande and the Verdienstkreuz für Kriegshilfsdienst as well as the Ehrenkreuz für Kriegsteilnehmer and the Schlesischer Adler 2. Klasse:


EhKr_1418_209.JPG

EhKr_1418_211.JPG

EhKr_1418_210.JPG

[Sevrin]

The one I've had for a while; interesting it has swords on the Honor Cross...

[Gardereiter]

A very nice array of very hard-to-find non-combattant bars and ribbon-bows you have all displayed here. AND these NC items are getting harder and harder to find!

I don't even begin to have the extensive and impressive bar collection of the heavy-hitters in this forum, so I only have this one modest bar with the combo we've been discussing to contribute. It's a favorite of mine because it has honest age and wear. The owner was a Prussian officer who received a 25-year Service Cross and a Crown Order. He was also a participant in the expedition to China to quell the Boxer rebellion. Then he came back for another round of service in WW1.

[Sevrin]

That's a great bar indeed. And agree about the honest wear on this one; I like minty looking bars as well, but if they're too nice, I'm always suspicious.

Best,

James

[Ian Hulley]

That's a great bar indeed. And agree about the honest wear on this one; I like minty looking bars as well, but if they're too nice, I'm always suspicious.

I like a clean bar with discernable wear, I like subtle aging and condition which reflects the fact it is almost 100 years old. We need to realise though that almost all of these inter-war bars were not worn in combat as many of the purely 3rd Reich ones have been. Genuine and purely WWI ribbon bars are scarce ... in all honesty I am satisfied that ONE of mine is ... the upper bar pictured below. Everything else is either 1918>33 or many, many more from 1934>45 with the Hindenburg Cross on.

Bar 1.JPG

Condition may be King but originality is everything.

Ian

[Don D.]

This thread should be down in the Imperial forum as it has nothing to do with the Wehrmacht.

[Gardereiter]

This thread should be down in the Imperial forum as it has nothing to do with the Wehrmacht.

In order to properly answer James' question about non-combattant Iron Crosses and Merit Crosses for War-Aid appearing alongside each other on Wehrmacht era bars, we had to travel back in time.