Why were so many non-combatant EKs awarded post-war?

[landsknechte]

I've heard the figure that approximately 10,000 of the 13,000 non-combatant Iron Crosses were awarded after the Armistice. Can anyone explain why?

Thanks,
Chris

[PaulChep]

That number 10,000 of 13,000 does not sound right to me. I think I would varify that number.

[landsknechte]

That number 10,000 of 13,000 does not sound right to me. I think I would varify that number.

I don't know first hand, but that number is the only one that I've heard on the forums here, and it comes up with some regularity by people who are more "in the know" than I.

--Chris

[McCulloh]

I thought the 10,000 figure was the number of civillian noncom EK2s awarded.
Previteria has a break down of the EK2s awarded 1914-1920 in his book, "The Iron Time". While he doesn't break out the noncom statistics, of the @4,000,000 EK2s awarded, @200,000 were awarded after 1918 (5%). He also notes that there were @5,075 noncom EK1s. But, about 40% of all EK1s were awarded postwar (@54,000)-mostly to officers.
While some EK2s were awarded as "Freikorps" awards-many others were given out as "consolation/merit" or "delayed" awards. There are dozens of EK2 snaps/xeroxs in my files that were typed up/written in October/November, 1918.
I have seen a number of these noncom EK2 award certificates-mostly to Beamten and Medical officers and they are all @1916-1918. I have seen only a few that were post war-notibly one to the Mayor of a town in Silesia and another to a Prussian Consul in Turkey.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Both of mine are post war,


Does Previtera state where the stats come from?

all the best
Chris

[McCulloh]

No, but I assume its the same place as where Kleitman got his numbers. I'd love to know. Shall we ask him?
By the way, who are your certificates to?

[McCulloh]

Stephen answered my question the crosses section.

[Chris Boonzaier]

No, but I assume its the same place as where Kleitman got his numbers. I'd love to know. Shall we ask him?
By the way, who are your certificates to?

Hi,
Ass. arzt Hahn, awarded by the sanitätsamt Münster in Oktober 1919 and to Marine Commis?? Leifs at the Danzig shipyards, from the Ordenskommisin in Berlin, March 1920.

There are just so very many variables and anamolies in the amounts awarded, every author has a different amount, and one guess is as good as another.