Hitler's Iron Crosses

[TJ Suter]

Thanks for the info. Does anyone know why we neve see photos of him wearing it? I know that even after the July assasination attempt, he didn't award himself a July 20th Wound Badge and tended to be highly conservative in his dress and appearance, especially in contrast to some of his medal encrusted cronies. So, why would he wear the EKI and wound badge, but no indication of the EKII?

I think the answer to your question is that Hitler's sole interest was in complete power. Once he had that power he knew it and so did everyone else. Göring, on the other hand, had a lot of authority but he was a megalomaniac.

[TMurray]

Hitler was a H.Q messenger or 'runner'. As he served on the frontline with the 16th Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment ('List' Rgt) in the trenches, it is highly unlikely that he would ever have had the opportunity to ride a motorcycle!!! There is some conjecture that AH passed up promotion to a full corporal from lance-corporal because this meant re-assignment from the Dispatch service.

[VtwinVince]

I think it was typical of EM's to be recommended for the EK 1, but not receive it, or only later on. My uncle was recommended for the EK 1 for bravery at Verdun, and the recommendation came from the regimental CO, Oberst Koch. He didn't actually receive the award until 1918, and only after scoring his first victory as a pilot.

[Gary B]

Hi,

Hitler served as a runner for a Bavarian Infantry Regiment and was a Regimental Dispatch carrier. In a battle near Ypres his Regimental Commander was killed and the Deputy Commander, Lieutentant Colonel Engelhardt was wounded. Hitler located a medic and pulled the Deputy commnader to safety. Several days later Englehardt, Hitler and another soldier venturted forward to observe fires when they were detected and raked by MG fire. Both Hitler and the other soldier pushed the Cdr into a ditch to protect him. The Cdr intended on recommending both for the Iron Cross but the next day was killed in an artillery barrage that hit the Regt Hq. Following this HItler was assigned to the HQ element on detail to paint the HQ. At this time the Regt adjutant submitted Hitlers name for the EK 1, but since he was on staff his name was on the bottom of the list. As a result his award was downgraded to a EK2.

Wiedemenn, the adjutant was Jewish.

Hitler would have to wait another few years before gettgin his EK1. His wound badge was awarded for a thigh wound (bullet I believe). He also ended the war as a patient who was suffering blindness from Mustard gas inhalation. Some of the blindness has been thouhgt to have been psychosamatic.

As for promotions he did turn down promotion since a promotion would have forced him to leave the job as Regt Dispatcher. Normally a solider of his bravery who had survived that long would have been a higher ranking NCO. He was known to love the job as a runner and quite often took on other missions for other runners when he did not need to. The officers in his Regt also did not think that he had the necessary leadership traits to be an NCO.

Gary B

[EKman]

Thanks for all the info guys. I now that some of Hitler's visor caps survive in private collections, does anyone know if an Iron Cross that has a good provenance exists anywhere.

[TJ Suter]

Bill Shea may have one. He owns the brown shirt that Lt. Lieber liberated from Hitler's Munich Apartment. I've seen period photographs of Lt. Lieber holding up one of his brown shirts and as I recall it had an EK I and a wound badge. I don't know if it is the same brown shirt that Shea has nor if it made it to his collection with his original badges intact or not.

[PaulR]

Bill Shea may have one. He owns the brown shirt that Lt. Lieber liberated from Hitler's Munich Apartment. I've seen period photographs of Lt. Lieber holding up one of his brown shirts and as I recall it had an EK I and a wound badge. I don't know if it is the same brown shirt that Shea has nor if it made it to his collection with his original badges intact or not.

I saw that tunic and it is a beauty. It is definately thought provoking. I think I remember him telling me that they were original to the uniform.

Paul Reck