Spanish Cross With Diamonds

[François SAEZ]

velvet

[panzerpionier]

Hi Jacques

these pics are great. May be Juan José have more of this day?

No. I got them from several different sources (including the autobiography of the Spanish Naval Attaché in Berlin during WWII ).

I think that pic will create a lot of discussion. First of all, I noticed also those LC members with ammo pouches... that is very strange, as LC officers wore Sam Browne belts with a single suspender. NCOs wore re-tailored RAD uniforms and Wehrmacht ammo pouches and suspenders.

On the other hand, I can count 22 recipients on that pic. Let's have a look at the SKiGmB recipients list:

-Oberleutnant Balthasar Wilhelm SKiGmB presented June, 1939
-Oberleutnant Bertram Otto
-Leutnant Boddem Peter +3/20/39
-Oberleutnant Eberhardt Karl +11/13/36
-Oberleutnant Ensslen Wilhelm
-Leutnant Fehlhaber Paul +6/11/37
-Oberleutnant Galland Adolf SKiGmB presented June, 1939
-Hauptmann Harder Harro
-Major Harlinghausen Martin
-Leutnant Henrici Oskar +11/13/36
-Oberleutnant Graf Hoyos Max
-Oberleutnant von Kessel Hans-Detlef +9/4/37
-Hauptmann Lützow Günther
-Oberstleutnant Mehnert Karl
-Hauptmann Mölders Werner
-Hauptmann Freiherr von Moreau Rudolf +4/4/39
-Hauptmann Neudörffer Wolfgang
-Oberleutnant Oesau Walter
-Generalmajor Freiherr von Richthofen Wolfram
-Leutnant Runze Heinz +1/1/38
-Hauptmann Schellmann Wolfgang
-Hauptmann Schlichting Joachim
-Oberleutnant Seiler Reinhard
-General der Flieger Sperrle Hugo SKiGmB presented 6/4/39
-Oberleutnant Stärcke Bernhard
-Oberstleutnant Ritter von Thoma Wilhelm
-General der Flieger Volkmann Helmut SkiGmB presented 6/4/39
-Major Wolff Karl-Heinz

If we discard those recipients which were presented their SKiGmB posthumously or in the following days, we have 17 men.

I am sure the pic showing Richthofen and Mölders show the left end of that formation. So, if we can see Mölders, Richthofen and Von Thoma on that formation, they should be SKiGmB recipients... but... they are more than 17... including an unknown army officer and two NCOs...

Best regards


P.S. According to pics in Bender's LC book, I would say that field is Doberitz.

[W. C. Stump]

ARMY AWARDS - JUNE 3, 1939

You have a keen eye as the location appears to be Doberitz after referring to Bender's book and other photographs. However, it further clouds the picture because Goring never awarded any awards to the Army members of the Legion Condor at Dobertiz. It was General von Brauchitsch who presented al the Gold and Silver Spanish Crosses. The Bronze awards were distributed by the respect commanders of each unit. See photo from Bender's book, UNIFORMS, ORGANIZATIONS AND HISTORY LEGION CONDOR.

[W. C. Stump]

VON BRAUCHTISCH ADDRESING THE ARMY TROOPS

This photograph shows General von Brauchisch addressing the Army contingent at Doberitz AFTER he had presented all gold and silver Spanish Crosses to the troops as shown in the above photograph. Note that von Thoma is standing in front of the podium while the General von Brauchitsct address the troops. Even with such a poor photograph one can see that von Thoma is wearing his decoration on the right side of his tunic.

[W. C. Stump]

FOR THE POOR OF SIGHT LIKE ME

I have blown up the above photograph to get a closer look at von Thoma's medal. I leave it to the viewer to say if it is a Spanish Cross or not.

Hopefully we can move to identify the Army officer standing with von Thoma in the end.

[merdock]

Hi,
heres a box ,i know Bill does not like this cross but thats up to him,see how the bottom of the case that supports the cross is a raised platform a unusual detail ,the white inside lid is like the photos of the award ceremony.

[merdock]

hi,
the construction is typical cardboard and animal glue,

[merdock]

more,

[merdock]

case closed.

[merdock]

cross in case ,see how the convex cross sits on the mound.

[W. C. Stump]

ALTERATION OF DATES

The new photographs send by my Spanish friend "panzerpionier" have created considerable doubt as to the correct time frame the events that took place from the date of arrival of the Condor Legion arrived back in German on May 31, 1939 to June 4th, 1939. The overall facts are not altered, just the dates of events seem to be different. This will not change the historical fact, but a clarification must be made. Then hopefully the identity of the Army officer in the line of troops can be identified. That may alter history if he was awarded the Spanish Cross with Diamonds.

[W. C. Stump]

THE ARMY AWARD CEREMONY

In this scan General von Brauchitsch is awarding the Gold and Silver Spanish Crosses to the Army troops of the Condor Legion on June 3, 1939 at Doberitz. Photo compliments of "panzerpioneer".

[W. C. Stump]

CLOSE UP SHOWING VON THOMA AND RICHTHOFEN

In the previous picture, as General von Brauchitsch is presenting the Gold and Silver Spanish Crosses to the Army you can see General Richthofen and von Thoma are in the background. Note that von Thoma is wearing his Spanish Cross.

[W. C. Stump]

NEW PHOTO

Here is a new picture from my friend in Spain showing a closer view of some of the troops wearing ammo pouches. It shows Goring presenting awards and Goring only present the Spanish Crosses with Diamonds and Gold and Silver awards to the Luftwaffe members.

[panzerpionier]

That pic is of the same formation that the one in previous pics. Note that the ammo pouches men are the same that appear at the right of the unidentified Heer officer.

Note that those men are an Unteroffizier mit Portepee (single six-pointed star) and an Unteroffizier (double horizontal bars). The identification of those men would bring a lot of information.

Best regards