Has anyone heard of a 1957 Mother's Cross? Either officially or unofficially? A neighbor lady I know has always wanted to wear her mother's Mothers Cross but of course does not want to stir up trouble by doing so. I told her I would investigate the possibility of a 1957 variety cross. Thanks all.
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Hi and welcome to the forum! Good question!
Though its in German, if you look here- http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=192100 you will see that the Mothers Cross is one of the forbidden items according to German law.
Your friend will have to wear the original or go without.
Again, welcome! -
the mothers cross never had a 57 form because it was classed as a nazi propoganda. your freind could always wear one without the swastika as in a denazified but best to just display it at home
regards
tomComment
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Very difficult to denazify a Mothers Cross though. The disk in the centre can be removed, but it just leaves a bare metal area and looks awful.Comment
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I think a lot of the beauty of a Mothers Cross is in the enamelled disc, without that, as Ray said, its not much to look at, she could also flip it over, and leave the swastika hidden, but again not very attractive!
Its a Shame the Mothers Cross was'nt made in 57 form, keeping the blue and white enamelling, but either leaving off the swaz, or replacing it with another symbol, it would have been an attractive piece!!
-Nigelsigpic 57ers...."The Devil Is In The Detail"Comment
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I agree that it would have been a good item to continue with post war. So very many mothers lost one or more sons in the war and the Mothers Cross would have served as nice commemorative piece without any real political affiliation. Most of the stipulations of the law I can understand. I must admit, this one puzzles me a bit.Comment
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Thanks for all the input. It never really occurred to me it was a propaganda piece. I will fill her in on the details and let her decide. Regards, teryjaki.Comment
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She could always do as all the german dealers do...put a black round sticker over the swastika.
At a distance, people would not see that it is a sticker and few would know whats hiding under it.
KarlComment
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Keep in mind it has an AH "signed" backside to it.Comment
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Good point Jonathan. That may have been a deciding factor when the new form laws were established.
Too bad, I still feel it was a nice commemorative piece for women who had paid such a high price for their country.Comment
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There never was a 57 version, reason is because a) it was a NSDAP civilian propaganda item and b) it was a political award instead of a bravery/military award
No matter how much some people in this thread feel it would make a nice commemorative medal, first and foremost the over 5 million issued pieces would remain a NSDAP item for complimenting women with the children they gave to the third reich. Commemorating this would be like complimenting Hitler. IMHO no more than logic it was forbidden after the war to wear the crosses. Bit of the same reason why the blood order was not allowed to be worn. Commemorating and celebrating the putch post war was just not done.Comment
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Hello jabnus,
Thank you for your input.
While I understand the political affiliations and agree they should not he honored in any manner, I respectfully disagree over not honoring mothers for their sacrifice regardless of who it was for.
Following your train of thought, none of the German military awards should have been redesigned in 1957 or offered to vets as the originals came from actions promoting Third Reich goals.
Having known parents who have lost sons in combat, it seems fitting IMHO, to allow a grief stricken mother a small momento to remember a fallen son by.
Obviously, the laws didn't allow it and possibly for the reasons you state and I concede that point, but giving the mothers a token item to help remember a lost son by seems quite fitting to me.Comment
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i respectivaly disagree it takes one hell of a lot to have a kid those women sacrifced just as much as men but don't et enough mention please bear in mind that the anti partisan award in gold was a 57er why not a mothers crossOriginally posted by jabnus View Post
regards
tomComment
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No doubt, the anti partisan badge was a very big mistake in the regulations from 1956/1957.
It was a SS and police decoration, often given for not partisan actions against civilians, mostly, but not only, against jews.
I wonder about the discussion on the cross of honour of the German mother.
It was a Nazi party decoration. That is, for me, the end of the discussion.
UweComment
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Hi Uwe,Originally posted by speedytop View Post
Agreed and no challenge to that point is offered. For that reason alone, it should absolutely be disallowed. My only point was and still is, some sort of commemorative piece for mothers who lost sons would have been a kind gesture.
Had the Mother's Cross been completely redesigned, totally devoid of Nazi symbolism, as other 57er's, like the BKA (which is a great example given by Tom) are, it would have been a nice way for mothers to remember their lost sons.
It's a moot point though as the laws are what they are and there's no going back.
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