Great photo of silver DK in wear!

[Jody]

Hi folks,
To help spark more of an interest in the DK in silver, I am posting an image of what I think it is the best photo out there of the DK in silver being worn. The photo is of SS Oberstgruppenfuehrer and Generaloberst der Polizei and Deputy Reich Protector in Bohemia and Moravia Kurt Daluege. Does anyone have a better photo of a silver DK being worn? I have a question, how many members of the SS were presented with this award?

Regards,
Jody

[Scott M]

.

[Jody]

Was the silver German Cross just a lower grade to the gold class or was it awarded for a non-combatant role?

Hi Scott,
The DK in silver was the non-combatant version and ranked below the gold DK. There were a few men who actually were presented with two of them.

Regards,
Jody

Here is Admiral Dr. Paul Meixner, as you can see he was awarded both grades of the DK.

[Dietrich Maerz]

Hi Scott,
The DK in silver was the non-combatant version and ranked below the gold DK.

Jody,

that is not quite true.

The gold and silver version were both equal, i.e. the silver version does not rank below the gold version.

The gold version was awarded for bravery and the silver version was awarded to exeptional deeds in the military operations level. The military charater also becomes clear that -to be awarded the German Cross in Silver - it was a condition to have been already awarded the EK1 or the Spange des EK1 WW1.

Both awards are strictly military awards. The notion that the silver version is more a 'war effort award' in the sense of "production of goods or such" is wrong.

I also have no idea why the silver version is thought to be less than the gold version. It is just not true.

Dietrich

P.S.: The Admiral acts against regulations! If both versions are awarded, only the Gold one is to be worn!

[Darrell]

... The military charater also becomes clear that -to be awarded the German Cross in Silver - it was a condition to have been already awarded the EK1 or the Spange des EK1 WW1.

Hi Dietrich, Angolia mentions that the above is true, but he takes it one step further and says that the award of the KVK 1st Class w/ Swords also counted as a prerequisite.

[Jody]

DK in silver

Hi Dietrich,
I wrote rather fast, what I meant to say was the silver ranked below the gold if they were worn together. In a sense if both were awarded and then only the gold is to be worn, then the gold does outrank the silver. If both were worn as in the case of the Admiral, talk about using up tunic space.

I have a question, if a person had the RK of the EK and the RK des KvK w/Swords, are both worn together or just the RK of the Iron Cross?

Regards,
Jody

[Dietrich Maerz]

I have a question, if a person had the RK of the EK and the RK des KvK w/Swords, are both worn together or just the RK of the Iron Cross?

In addition to the regular institution orders for both the Iron Cross and the War Merit Cross, there are quite a number of additional orders and clarifications, combined in the "Merkblatt 15/5, edition 1943".

I cannot find anything regarding this matter in the book. Normally one finds exclusions like with the gold and silver version of the DK.

Judging by the fact that both knights crosses were personally approved and granted by the Führer alone I would say that one could wear both - like the PLM and the RK - or like the PLM and the RK and the GC in the case of Göring.

But that's just a guess.

Dietrich

[Dietrich Maerz]

Hi Dietrich, Angolia mentions that the above is true, but he takes it one step further and says that the award of the KVK 1st Class w/ Swords also counted as a prerequisite.

That is also true, as per additiion dated 29. October 1941. In the original dated 28. September, only the EK1 and Spange is mentioned. And again, the KVK mit Schwerter was only awarded for military related actions.

[Darrell]

I wonder if there was some decree (undiscovered) that prohibited one from gaining both the RK d EK and RK d KVK if one or the other was received first?

However, the EK1 and KVK 1 could be awarded to the same individual, so this is probably not true. Maybe just a case that it never actually happened so they never had to worry about it?

[François SAEZ]

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/germ...cross_main.htm

and for # of attributions

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/germ...recipients.htm

[Jody]

DK in Silver

In addition to the regular institution orders for both the Iron Cross and the War Merit Cross, there are quite a number of additional orders and clarifications, combined in the "Merkblatt 15/5, edition 1943".

I cannot find anything regarding this matter in the book. Normally one finds exclusions like with the gold and silver version of the DK.

Judging by the fact that both knights crosses were personally approved and granted by the Führer alone I would say that one could wear both - like the PLM and the RK - or like the PLM and the RK and the GC in the case of Göring.

But that's just a guess.

Dietrich

Hi Dietrich,
Thank you for that information and I hope you are having a Happy Easter.

Regards,
Jody

[Dietrich Maerz]

And a Happy Easter to you all too!

Dietrich

[Darrell]

I'm sure any visitors to GMIC have seen this already ... but I believe it answers the question re: RK EK and RK KVK being awarded to one person quite well

Thanks to Gordon Williamson who dug up this picture:

[Jody]

RK and RK des KvK

I'm sure any visitors to GMIC have seen this already ... but I believe it answers the question re: RK EK and RK KVK being awarded to one person quite well

Thanks to Gordon Williamson who dug up this picture:

Hi Darrell,
I don't know how I missed it. Great photo, and typical of the great stuff Gordon turns up.

Regards,
Jody

[Darrell]

Hi Darrell,
I don't know how I missed it. Great photo, and typical of the great stuff Gordon turns up.

Regards,
Jody

Hey Jody ... look closely ... it almost appears he has BOTH awards attached to the same ribbon !!?? That's why they are rather cock-eyed at his throat ... concur?