Awarding date for the German Cross in Gold

[Meck]

Hello everybody,

Is the date on the German Cross in Gold formal Award document, related to the actual 'fact' on the battlefield? Or is it just the date that the award was approved?


Is their a way to find out when the owner of the award 'earned' the award?
If they would be released for example always after 3 months, you should be able to do research in that way.

Just curious what you think
Thanks!

[nick-j]

Hi Martin
The dates do not normally correspond and there can be varied times in between.
If you give us the details it can be looked up - there are books containing lists of recipients and branch of service etc but sadly not the deed they were awarded the Gc for, - possibly what you were looking for?
Nick

[Brian R]

The DKiG was an award that typically recognized multiple acts of bravery over time. The award date on the document is related to its approval/processing. Sometimes you will see EK documents with the date the act took place but most documents for bravery include dates related to the recommendation and/or paperwork.

[Brian R]

Awards for the Ehrenblatt des Deutschen Heeres will show the date of the actions and the date of the award. No other bravery award documents are like that, including the DKiG.

[Simon O.]

Here's an example for you of the various timeframes and order of paperwork typical for the award of the DKiG.

In this case Lt. Josef Dechant who was acting kp. führer of 6./Gren.Rgt.378, 169 Inf.Div.

His award date given in the post-war sources is given as 17 March 1944.
Note that he was recommended for the award after 4 separate actions which would have got him the EKI, after his EKI award in 1941, and that these actions occurred over a period of 16 months.

1.) Award recommendation sent from regiment to division. 11 Feb.44
2.) Approved and endorsed by the divisional commander. 15 Feb 44
3.) Approved and endorsed by the korps commander. 17 Feb. 44
4.) Approved and endorsed by the chief of staff of 20 Gebirgs Armee and sent onwards to the HPA of OKH. 28 Feb. 44
5.) Signal received by 20 Geb Armee approving the award with a date of 18 March 44 and stating that the medal and preliminary award document are to follow. 20 March 44

[Meck]

Thanks for the info!

Like to thank all of you for the information! Learning every day
He was awarded the German Cross in Gold june the 10th, 1943.

Maybe I can find a copy of the "verleihungsliste deutsches kreuz in gold" from that period. To see if he is listed and at that period was still alive.

Thanks
martin

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