Spanish Cross With Diamonds

[W. C. Stump]

I have been researching the recipients of the Spanish Cross with Diamonds for quite a long time.The evidence I have accumulated proved that Oberst von Thoma was the 28th recipient and the only confirmed recipient from the army. However, another army officer was in the line of recipients who received the high award from Goring on May 30, 1939 in Hamburg. I have obtained a period photograph of the line of recipients receiving the award standing by von Thoma. The problem is that I can't identify this officer. The following is a series of photos of showing this officer. Any assistance will be appreciated.

[W. C. Stump]

LINE OF RECIPIENTS

Here is the line of recipients receiving the Spanish Cross with Diamonds on the parade field in Hamburg. The date was May 30, 1939. Please look to the far left to the last three officers in the line. You will von Thoma (wearing the Army beret) with an Army officer in Wehrmacht uniform wearing a visor cap to von Thoma's left. To the right of von Thoma, the last person in the line is a Condor Legion officer wearing a full dress Condor Legion Uniform.

Note: I would like to thank my fellow reearcher from Spain Juan José Erce Montilla for finding this photograph.

[W. C. Stump]

CLOSE UP

This is a closer scan of the three officers

[W. C. Stump]

CLEARER PHOTO SHOWING VON THOMA RECEIVING HIS AWARD

This is an official Associated Press Photograph taken of von Thoma receiving his Spanish Cross with Diamonds. A caption on the revere states that this photograph was taken in Hamburg on May 30, 1939. A profile view of the unidentified Army officer can be clearly seen.

Note: This photograph was provided by my friend and fellow researcher Otto Spronk.

[W. C. Stump]

CAPTION ON THE PHOTOGRAPH

Here is a copy of the Associated Press notations on the reverse of the photograph.

[W. C. Stump]

IS THIS THE SAME ARMY OFFICER?

Here is an Army officer with Richthofen that resembles the officer in the above photo.

[jacques]

Hi
The pic you show seems to be inverted. the decorations appear on a left breast and there have to be on the right. So at the time of the pîc (2nd one), Von thoma don't wear any spanish cross. Were are the LW recipients ?
regards
jacques

[W. C. Stump]

Originally posted by jacques
Hi
The pic you show seems to be inverted. the decorations appear on a left breast and there have to be on the right. So at the time of the pîc (2nd one), Von thoma don't wear any spanish cross. Were are the LW recipients ?
regards
jacques

I sure did flip the photo. I corrected it now and thanks for pointing out my error.

As per the Luftwaffe recipients, all troops except von Thoma and the Army officer in Wehrmacht uniform in the line of recipients receiving the Spanish Cross with Diamonds on the parade field in Hamburg were Luftwaffe recipients. Also NONE were wearing the Spanish Crosses as they were just being award them. The rest of the members received their Spanish Crosses after the Hamburg homecoming. the troops moved by train from Hamburg to Doberitz and on June 3rd the Army tank and signal units received their awards. On the 4th, all Kreigsmarine and Luftwaffe personnel received their Spanish Crosses. Finally, by the time the troops were honored in the Berlin Victory parade on June 6th all members had and wore their Spanish Crosses.

The medals you see being worn by von Thoma and the other Legionnaires on May 30 are all Spanish decorations presented by the Spanish government to the troops in the large Victory paraade and farwell to the German Condor Legion in Spain on May 19th, 1939.

[Bryan Poon]

Thanks Bill

Bringing us back to the history. I can realize your effort to the research.

Cheers
BP

[W. C. Stump]

THE BEGINNING OF THE LINE

This photo shows Goring and his assistants presenting von Richthofen as the last Commander of the Legion Condor his Spanish Cross with Diamonds. Note the presence of Hauptmann Mölders, who had returned earlier and is wearing his Luftwaffe uniform. He was also bestowed the Spanish Cross with diamonds.

[Bryan Poon]

.....

[W. C. Stump]

Originally posted by Bryan Poon
Hi Bill

Your file missed the ".jpg". I post again for you.

Cheers
BP

I missed something. Thanks for assisting.

[Bryan Poon]

You're welcome.

Cheers
BP

[jacques]

Hi
these pics are great. May be Juan José have more of this day?
On the line, The fifth and fourth men from right seem to wear cartridge pouches; which says that they are enlisted men. The recipients of the spanish cross with diamonds were all officers. May be these two guys are only receiving the gold cross among the diamonds recipients ?
On the pic showing Göring awarding the cross to von Thoma, the inside of the box seems to be white. What is the inside color of the spanish cross diamonds case ? anybody has one to share ?
regards
jacques

[W. C. Stump]

Originally posted by jacques
Hi
these pics are great. May be Juan José have more of this day?
On the line, The fifth and fourth men from right seem to wear cartridge pouches; which says that they are enlisted men. The recipients of the spanish cross with diamonds were all officers. May be these two guys are only receiving the gold cross among the diamonds recipients ?
On the pic showing Göring awarding the cross to von Thoma, the inside of the box seems to be white. What is the inside color of the spanish cross diamonds case ? anybody has one to share ?
regards
jacques

Jacques all the recipients of the Spanish cross with Diamonds were officers. On May 30, 1939, in Hamburg, ONLY the Spanish Cross with Diamonds was presented and not all the recipients were present at this award ceremony. Two known recipients who first received the Gold with Swords cross were not in this first award ceremony. They were upgraded to the Diamonds two weeks later by Goring. they were Oberleutnants Adolf Galland and Wilhelm Balthesar.

As per the two men you seem to think are wearing cartridge pouches I can't tell for sure what they are wearing other than the standard leather "sam brown" style belt with shoulder straps.

As per cases for the Spanish Cross with Diamonds, I know of only one to have survived the war. It was sold with the cross and document by Christi's Auction House years ago. In their catalog they only pictured the cross and document, but stated it came in its original presentation case. What the interior color was, is lost to history unless someone else knows.