Basic Iron Cross Question

[Tim Tynan]

I am a bit embarassed to ask this simple question but, "The Iron Time" doesn't provide a very satisfactory explanation.

Could anyone please explain the significance of the three oak leaves on all Iron Crosses (except 1939).

Thank your for your patience.
Tim

[Brian S]

Well I'm not too embarrassed to give an answer, although usually I should be.

The oak leaf sprigs symbolize the great oak 'oath tree' of ancient Prussian yore where good Prussians swore allegiance to the Prussian monarchy. Or, it was simply from the crown of oak leaves worn as taking the oath to become King or Kaiser. That's why it's on there with F.Wilhelm's FW. With Onkel AH, the swearing of oaths was done on the Blut Fahne or Luft Sword or whatever was handy that was AH's symbol, certainly not to be confused with Imperial oaths.

That's my 30 second rendition. Next.

[Tim Tynan]

Basic Iron Cross Question

Thanks Brian.

Is there some special significance why there are 3 leaves instead of one or two?

Thanks again
Tim

[Brian S]

It's like planting a garden, you never put a pair of anything out you always put out odd numbers. Just looks better.

[George Stimson]

Also artistically, odd numbers of things are better than even numbers.

[JensF.]

The meaning of the oakleafes was described by King Friedrich-Wilhelm III. as follows:

"The middle line of the middle leaf together with the leaf to the right shall build a "L" for Luise (his wife). The nine jags of the middle leaf are for the nine living children of Queen Luise; the five jags to the left for the five sons and the 4 jags to the right are for the four girls. The four lower lines of the leafes build an "X", a latin "10" together with the nine jags of the middle leaf are a "19", the day Queen Luise died (July 19, 1810)."

The date of the institution of the Iron Cross was March 10, 1813; the birthday of Queen Luise (born March 10, 1776).

Informations from Harald Geißlers book "Das Eiserne Kreuz" and from www.koenigin-luise.com

[Teuton]

Thanks for the info Mr. Majorpayne! Who would have thought so much thought went into the 3 Oakleaves.

[Tim Tynan]

Basic Iron Cross Question

Just got back to check this thread. Thank you very much.Majorpayne. That was extremely helpful. It's a heck of a lot better than the info I had before.

Tim

[Brian S]

I thought this story related to the oakleaves to the Pour le Merite?

...So, in addition to the above if it truly holds for the EK oak sprigs, the total number of twenty four leaf points in the cluster added to the numeral ten equals thirty four, the total years of Louise' life (remember the 10, X, is formed by the bottom edges of the middle leaf and the lowest points of the side leaves). And, if we believe it does correspond to the EK, then the 3, which was the question originally posed here, represented by the 3 sprigs, or 3 leaves of the PLM oakleaves, represents the month of March, the month of Louise's birthday. The 24 leaf tips represented the day of their marriage, 12/24/1793 and again the X from Latin Decem meaning ten, was originally from the tenth month (hence two meanings in one, a real time saver...). Finally, the seven points of the left leaf of the oakleaves and the number X, ten, represented the 17 years they had lived together in Prussia. On the oakleaves, the letter "J" is formed by the centerline of the middle leav in conjunction with the uppermost point and the lower left edge of the leaf. This letter represents the m onth of Louise's death, July.

EK sprigs or oakleaves or purely bored adoring Prussians finding symbolism in the country's highest award? Who knows. But back to your oginal question, the oakleaves to the RK lost the basic look of the X L and J according to the whims of jewelers.

Given all the symbolism if truly passed by King Friedrich Wilhelm III, it was for the PLM Oakleaves of 1811 which predated the EK of 1813.

[Brian S]

You can use your own oaks but hopefully these PLM leafs will help you visualize;