I know this is a dumb question, but can any one give a brief history of the white cross that was on the majoriaty of German military, or at least army equiptment. I have always heard it referred to as the Balkan Cross. Is it outlawed like the swaz is? Thanks, Charlie
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It's not outlawed in fact a slightly modified version is still in useCollecting German award documents, other paperwork and photos relating to Norway and Finland. -
Hello Charlie
First and most important is that the correct word is BALKENKREUZ which has nothing to do with the Balkan as an geographical area. Balken simply means beam.. so it literally a cross made of two beams.
It is believed that the Balkenkreuz goes back to the cross of the Teutonic Knights.
Image from: http://www.heraldica.org/topics/orders/teutonic.htm
The Balkenkreuz is not forbidden nowadays. The Bundeswehr is still using a variation on their vehicles.
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Hi Charlie, another fact you may or may not have heard is that the cross used as an AFV vehicle marking evolved after experience in Poland. Tanks there were marked with a plain white cross. Apparently the Poles found this marking was too bright and made vehicle recognition easy as well as being a good aiming point. As a result the Germans added the black portions to the cross to make it more subdued.
Cheers, Ade.Comment
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