Non-combatant Iron Crosses

[Nicholas Link]

I have a modest collection of iron crosses, and I tend to do my homework and learn as much about the hobby as I can. But there are some questions I havn't found answers for, and one of them is this:

The non-combatant EK's from the imperial times; were they awarded to non-combatants, such as medics, chaplans, etc., for valor, or were they awarded as merit badges to rear-echelon commandos for making it to the morning formations on time? This is not an earth-shaking question, I know. But I am curious. Thanks for your time.

[George Stimson]

I'll move this to the "Imperial" section where you might get a faster answer.

[gregM]

I tend to believe that the non-com EK2 took an act that recieved some special recognition. My reason for thinking this is the extremely low numbers in which it was awarded. There were only 13,000 non-com EK2s awarded compared to 3 1/2 million standard EK2s.

[Kondor]

Medical EKII

I've the document (and cross) for an EKII awarded to a military surgeon serving in a hospital in Torgau, far enough behind the lines. What is so unique is that the award document is handwritten on the back of a receipt for medical supplies and signed by a Generaloberartz. Another document I have is for one awarded to Karl-Friedrich Mertens (U-68) father as the Major of a town on the eastern front close to the fighting as K-F related it to me. He said it was in recognition for organizing his town and being ready for the worst if the Russians broke through. This is just a standard award document with the designation of the colors of the ribbon to let one know it was a non-combatant.

[McCulloh]

wer?

I remember reading that 10,000 of the 13,000 werer awarded post-war, mostly 1919-21.
I have seen documents or pictures to the following people:

Vice-Consul in Turkey, Consul in Bulgaria, ex- Reichs politician (Cabinet member in 1905), "businessman" ("kaufman") who organized the 6th war loan drive in Berlin, military chaplain, naval architect (Beamter) in Kiel, naval engineer (civillian:Kiel), Military official in Berlin, and a number of Doctors (in Weimar ranklists).

[Nicholas Link]

Non-combatant EK's

So apparantly they were used to recognize valor, and also as merit badges?

[Daniel Murphy]

The combattant EK2 was awarded for valor and military merit. The Noncombattant version was generally awarded for merit either at home or for personnel serving behind the lines. Doctors and nurses would be an example of the latter. Under special circumstances, the combattant version was also awarded to military officials serving at home. Confusing isn't it. Welcome to Imperial Iron Cross collecting.
Dan Murphy

[Chris Wainwrigh]

Here's my non-com bar to a navy man.

[PaulR]

Here are my two.

[Darrell]

Personally, unless it had 101% attribution and came as a non-messed with Medal Bar, I would not pay anymore for one than a regular ribboned cross.

[streptile]

Here are a couple of my non-combatant EKs2s. This ribbon came with the cross.

[streptile]

I added this ribbon, although I believe it is a correct 1870 non-combatant ribbon (the cross came without one).

[EK Hunter]

I added this ribbon, although I believe it is a correct 1870 non-combatant ribbon (the cross came without one).

Beautiful EK2, Trevor. It looks great with the ribbon you added. By the way, how can you tell the difference between an 1870 and a 1914 non-combatant ribbon? I'd imaging it isn't very easy to do so.

Best,

Alex

[streptile]

Thanks Alex.

Some people think it's possible to differentiate between the widths of the stripes between 1914 and 1870 (for combatant or non-combatant), but I've never seen any evidence of that. I think the stripe-widths were pretty variable during both periods. So I don't know of any fool-proof way to say if a ribbon is from 1914, 1870, or any period between (or after). I think this particular ribbon is a 19th C. variety because it is a remnant of a pretty tattered ribbon from a Jungfraukreuz, which used 1870 non-combatant EK2 ribbons.

[Don D.]

All unmounted (and some mounted) noncombattant EKs are a leap of faith when it comes to the ribbon.