Q about GCiG

[Jos L C]

Hi,

What is the reason that this German cross also came in light weight version ?

Jos.

[streptile]

Hi,

What is the reason that this German cross also came in light weight version ?

Jos.

Because men had to wear the thing on a uniform. The heavy ones are heavy.

[Dietrich Maerz]

The weight reduction was a byproduct but not the main reason. The main reason was the switch over from the valuable and war important Tombak (copper alloy) to the Ersatzmaterial Cupal which was also cheaper.

[Jelle M.]

The weight reduction was a byproduct but not the main reason. The main reason was the switch over from the valuable and war important Tombak (copper alloy) to the Ersatzmaterial Cupal which was also cheaper.

Can't say it better

[Militaria-Berlin]

The weight reduction was a byproduct but not the main reason. The main reason was the switch over from the valuable and war important Tombak (copper alloy) to the Ersatzmaterial Cupal which was also cheaper.

Although I agree, this is generally accepted and officially stated I've always wondered about this statement.
Both copper and aluminum, which are the base products of cupal, are also war important metals, and aluminium is a very costly and difficult item to manufacture. Did nobody in the war ministry consider this before they finally turned to zinc for most other badged (except the DK of course).

[Dietrich Maerz]

We cannot and should not view matters of the past with today's point of view, that is one of the big hubris of the present.
We can only report and state what was the point of view at the time and that was that Cupal is cheaper and better to use in order to free the copper for the war effort. As always, original documents must be the base for the statement.