Number of EK I clasp awarded??

[Gregorio Torres]

Does anybody know how much 1939 clasps to the EK I 1914 were awarded during the war?
Thank you
Greg

[ejwahl1]

According to the IRON TIME (2nd Edition) it is estimated that there were 150,000 EKI Spangen awarded, 1939 - 45.

Regards,

Ed

[ben bijker]

Hmmm, that is an awful lot......

Well, time to hunt down the remaining 149,992 then



Regards,
Ben

[Gregorio Torres]

Thank you very much, Ed. I thought there were less than these.
Ben, one of this lot is in my home, but let it be.
Regards
Greg

[Dietrich Maerz]

I do not know on what data Stephen based the 150,000 awarded Spange for the EK1 of 1914.

In the paperwork of the Präsidialkanzlei I found the a number of 29,381 for the total between Sept. 1939 and March 1942. (For the Spange EK2 this number is 102,225). I do not have more numbers but I find it extremely hard to believe that the number was growing five times by the end of the war. I would rather think that by Spring 1942 the number of EK1 awardees of the WW1 was either dead or got the Spange already.
This is supported by the fact that the PKZ did not send out any Spangen during the month of Sept. 41 and Febr. 42.
I rather think that a total of 35.000 is more realistic. And a number of 110,000 for the EK2 Spange also (not 450,000). Of course, these numbers do not include the private stock and private purchases. But would they have a bigger impact than maximum double?

This is based on actual wartime documents. The upcoming book about the EK1 and Spange 1 will go deeper into this matter.

Dietrich

[Gregorio Torres]

Dietrich: I´m agree with you.
I had thought in a total close to yours numbers always. It would be interesting to know the source where "Iron Time" took the information to talk about 150.000 and 450.000 spanges for EK I and II. On the other hand... if just 300.000 EKI were awarded during the WWII, I have my doubts that the half part of them were given to soldiers who have the EKI 1914.
I´ll be waiting for news about this interesting question.
Greg

[Blaue]

Gordon Williamson

This is the only thing that I can add:

“Approximately 100,000 Bars of both classes were awarded.”

Source: Gordon Williamson. The Iron Cross, a History 1813-1957. Ed. 1984, Blandford Press Ltd.

[Flemming]

Dietrich and Ben, does any of you have a gestimate about when they did issue the 1st type, with the curved date bar...from september 1939 - ?

/Flemming

[tinmantis]

The upcoming book about the EK1 and Spange 1 will go deeper into this matter.

Dietrich

sounds interesting Dietrich, when is it out?
regards
jon