Spanish Cross - Awarded to All Participants?

[Darren]

Hi everyone,

After reading the article about the Spanish Cross on this website, I got the impression that the Spanish Cross (in all it's variants) was awarded to every person that served in Spain. Is this a fair statement? I assume that this award would show up in a soldier's records as a 'significant' award. What are your thoughts on this?

regards

[Laurence Strong]

Spanish crosses awarded
Bronze 8462
Silver 8304
Gold 1126
Gold w/ D 27

W/o Swords
Bronze 7869
Silver 327

What was the total strenght of the "Condor Legion" or better yet what was the total number of personel rotated thru the War!

[Darren]

Hi Laurence,

Well, your assumptions are correct - around 19,000 Luftwaffe personnel served in Spain, and it looks like 16,878 awarded. If you include the 8,000 or so without swords, it sure looks like it was awarded to all concerned! Now, why didn't I think to do the math!

Thanks,

Darren

[Laurence Strong]

Yes the research part states 25000 I think. No Problem I just learnt something new. I have not paid much attention to the Spanish cross yet as its not in my plans any time soon and there is to much other stuff to learn

[jacques]

Yes the research part states 25000 I think. No Problem I just learnt something new. I have not paid much attention to the Spanish cross yet as its not in my plans any time soon and there is to much other stuff to learn

That a good idea ! and if you cross one, just send me an Email .

More seriously ! All the refence books are talking about 18000 but when you add all the awarded crosses it figures out more than 26000. I think that all the volonteers were awarded a spanish cross what ever the class. May be we can see in these differences the soldiers who fought on the spanish ground and who were awarded a sword cross, and those who participated on another way and who were awarded the without sword cross. the attribution was included in the soldbuch.

jacques

[Laurence Strong]

That a good idea ! and if you cross one, just send me an Email .

jacques

You already have to many Jacques, It's not that I would not want 1, it's just that they are not in my future plans, but if one came by..........

[Robin Lumsden]

That a good idea ! and if you cross one, just send me an Email .

More seriously ! All the refence books are talking about 18000 but when you add all the awarded crosses it figures out more than 26000. I think that all the volonteers were awarded a spanish cross what ever the class. May be we can see in these differences the soldiers who fought on the spanish ground and who were awarded a sword cross, and those who participated on another way and who were awarded the without sword cross. the attribution was included in the soldbuch.

jacques

.........and don't forget the LDO ones for private purchase - you could probably double that number.

[jacques]

Hi Robin,

when I say 26000, it's only the awarded one. As at least 10 manufacturers made that cross. So more than the double were manufactured in my opinion. It's not really a rare combat badge, so I can't understand why they are so expensives ...
jacques

[Jeff V]

Even at 50k produced that is pretty low considering how many of the other awards were produced. ek, iab, gab, pab, etc. Not rare though, and I'm with jaques, I really like them, and wish they were not so expensive.

respectfully,
jeff

[Sal Williams]

.

[panzerpionier]

That a good idea ! and if you cross one, just send me an Email .

More seriously ! All the refence books are talking about 18000 but when you add all the awarded crosses it figures out more than 26000. I think that all the volonteers were awarded a spanish cross what ever the class. May be we can see in these differences the soldiers who fought on the spanish ground and who were awarded a sword cross, and those who participated on another way and who were awarded the without sword cross. the attribution was included in the soldbuch.

jacques

According to Spanish book, about 14000 Spanish Campaign medals were awarded to German personnel that served in Spain, see post #5:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ad.php?t=17035

I have a explanation for such a big diference: SK were awarded to Kriegsmarine crews that served in Spanish waters. Those men were considered by German government as "Spanish veterans" and received SK w/o swords, but for Spanish government they did not take part in the war. We should add those German Foreign Office and Wehrmacht civil servants ans officers that undertook administrative and liason duties in Germany. I think my theory could match the figures.

Best regards

[jacques]

Panzerpionier, That's exactly my opinion.

jacques