spange question

[fuser1]

hi guys what was the purpuose of the 1939 spange?, i red in some books that was awarded because the soldier received in ww2 the ek that already had been received in the ww1, and some others said that the recipient add it to use the ek from the ww1, so....

[Darrell]

hi guys what was the purpuose of the 1939 spange?, i red in some books that was awarded because the soldier received in ww2 the ek that already had been received in the ww1, and some others said that the recipient add it to use the ek from the ww1, so....

You are pretty close. The Spange was in fact used to distinguish those who earned the Iron Cross in the First World War, who won them again in WW2.

They were awarded in 1st and 2nd class versions. The 1st Class version was typically worn on the left breast pocket immediately above the EK1 (WW1 version).

The 2nd Class Spange was usually not worn unless on formal occasssions, when it would be attached to a WW1 second Class Ribbon through the second button hole on the uniform.

[50_CAL]

You learn something new everyday. I thought they always wore the EKII spange all the time....

[Darrell]

You learn something new everyday. I thought they always wore the EKII spange all the time....

Well ... the guys that earned the spanges were usually higher ranking officers etc. Quite often you may see the officers displaying the smaller spanges attached to ribbon bars worn above the left breast pocket rather than the full size on the button ribbon.

It was probably due to the method of attachment. Much easier to unhook the 1st class spange and transfer to other uniforms or even the medal bar ... but the 2nd Class spanges were attached with the 4 (or in some cases 2) pronges onto the ribbon which was sewn in behind the button hole of the uniform. Rather a pain to keep taking this on and off uniforms all the time.

[fuser1]

tks great information, another doubt came to my mind, a ww1 ek1 or 2 recipient was aloud to use it in his uniform in the ww2 (like hitler)

[Darrell]

tks great information, another doubt came to my mind, a ww1 ek1 or 2 recipient was aloud to use it in his uniform in the ww2 (like hitler)

Yes. Absolutely. Very many of the "old" guard you see wearing just the EK2 (ribbon) or EK1 (and not the spange) because they did nothing of importance to deserve the award during WW2.

[50_CAL]

Well ... the guys that earned the spanges were usually higher ranking officers etc. Quite often you may see the officers displaying the smaller spanges attached to ribbon bars worn above the left breast pocket rather than the full size on the button ribbon.

It was probably due to the method of attachment. Much easier to unhook the 1st class spange and transfer to other uniforms or even the medal bar ... but the 2nd Class spanges were attached with the 4 (or in some cases 2) pronges onto the ribbon which was sewn in behind the button hole of the uniform. Rather a pain to keep taking this on and off uniforms all the time.

You have a point there Darrell about the pain of transfering them. Thats probably why you almost always see them on.

[Darrell]

You have a point there Darrell about the pain of transfering them. Thats probably why you almost always see them on.

Yes ... and quite often the ribbons sold with these used spanges are rather dirty and tattered.