Iron Cross: Terminology question

[Jeroen P]

Does the Hindenburg medal (and the cross on the 1870-71 Kriegsdenkmünze, and on many other medals) symbolize the iron cross, or not?



I remember reading that these are in fact Maltese crosses, wich are related to, but "officially" not the same as "the" iron cross. I tried to look it up again today, but instead I read that the Hindenburg medal and the centre of the current "Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr" (pictured below) do indeed show "the" iron cross.



So, can anybody clarify? Are there two types of crosses? Or is there still some confusion?

[gregM]

Now days, the term "Maltese cross" pretty much just refers to the
general shape of the cross.

[Elmar Lang]

This type of Cross, under the heraldic point of view, is a "paty cross". The EK, should actually be considered a "cross paty" or a "cross formy", in other words, the classical Templar's Cross.

The maltese type one, have its arms widening from the centre, and cleft like a swallow-tail; the arms, generally meeting in the centre at a point.

Best wishes,

E.L.

[Jeroen P]

The maltese type one, have its arms widening from the centre, and cleft like a swallow-tail; the arms, generally meeting in the centre at a point.

You're right, the maltese cross is still something different, if I'm not mistaken the 1939 War merit cross is a maltese cross.


Maybe I should rephrase my question: Is it the symbol of the Prussian Iron Cross that is shown on these medals?

[Valter Gorenc]

I think "Prussian" cross is heraldically cross pattee. Here you have all kinds of crosses explained.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross

[Jeroen P]

I see. So the Iron Cross is a cross pattee, but not all crosses pattee used in the German army are necessarily referring to the Iron Cross medal.

[gregM]

Is it the symbol of the Prussian Iron Cross that is shown on these medals?

Yes-- all of these reference back to the original 1813 Prussian Iron Cross.

[Jeroen P]

Yes-- all of these reference back to the original 1813 Prussian Iron Cross.

thanks!

[saschaw]

The Prussian Napoleonic campaign medals actually show a cross like the Russian St. George order! Compare the shape, this is not the usual form of a Iron Cross.

But the 1870/71 medals do show an Iron Cross, and the Honour crosses were following the 1870/71 medals.