The German Cross in Gold, or Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (abbreviated as DkiG), was established on September 28, 1941, by Adolf Hitler. It was awarded for exceptional bravery or outstanding service in commanding units on the battlefield. A prerequisite for receiving this award was the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse, abbreviated as EK1) or the repeat clasp for the EK1. It is important to note that the German Cross was not an intermediate step to the Knight’s Cross (Ritterkreuz or RK) but rather an independent decoration for courage and bravery. Recipients of the Knight’s Cross could also be awarded the German Cross in Gold. The Knight’s Cross could be awarded for a single action, while multiple actions were required to earn the German Cross. In practice, it was often the case that the German Cross was awarded and conferred after receiving the Knight’s Cross.
In the event that a soldier earned both the Gold and Silver German Crosses, regulations prescribed that only the Gold German Cross should be worn on the uniform. However, in practice, soldiers often wore both simultaneously.
A total of 24,328 German Crosses in Gold were awarded, distributed as follows:
The first award of the German Cross was on October 18, 1941.
The German Crosses were composed of multiple parts. In the early period, a heavier version was produced, weighing around 65-70 grams. In the late war period, a lighter version, known as the “light version,” was manufactured. These lighter versions weighed up to 20 grams less, depending on the manufacturer. The swastika was enameled. In the heavier versions, the material for the backplate was made from tombak, while in the lighter versions, it was made from “kupala,” a copper-plated aluminum alloy.
German Crosses in Gold also exist in embroidered form on fabric. Various types of military fabric were used as backing material. Such versions were more commonly utilized in the field.
The German Cross in Gold with diamonds was never officially established. In 1942, the Rath firm from Munich created 20 specimens, but none were officially awarded.
Prices for German Crosses in Gold range from 3000-4500 Euros for earlier models or heavier versions, and 1700-2000 Euros for lighter versions. Boxes for the German Cross are priced between 1200-1700 Euros. These prices apply to specimens that are undamaged or unaltered.
Embroidered versions are priced at 700-900 Euros.
The image depicts a German Cross in Gold, an earlier model from around 1941, manufactured by Deschler & Sohn, Munich.
Large version of the presentation box for the German Cross.
The German Cross in Silver, or Deutsches Kreuz in Silber (abbreviated as DkiS), was established on September 28, 1941, by Adolf Hitler. It was awarded for multiple exceptional military merits in combat that were not necessarily related to direct contact with the enemy, as in the case of the German Cross in Gold. A prerequisite for receiving this award was the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse, abbreviated as EK1) or the repeat clasp for the EK1, or the War Merit Cross with Swords 1st Class. The German Cross in Silver served as a qualification for the award of the Knight’s Cross for War Merit. An embroidered version of the German Cross in Silver on fabric does not exist, or information about such versions and preserved specimens is not known.
German Crosses were composed of multiple parts. In the early period, a heavier version was produced, weighing around 65-70 grams. In the late war period, a lighter version, known as the “light version,” was manufactured. These lighter versions weighed up to 20 grams less, depending on the manufacturer. The swastika was enameled. In the heavier versions, the material for the backplate was made from tombak, while in the lighter versions, it was made from “kupala,” a copper-plated aluminum alloy.
A total of 1114 German Crosses in Silver were awarded, distributed as follows:
The German Cross in Silver is rarer than the German Cross in Gold, and therefore its price is somewhat higher. The heavier or earlier version is priced at 4800-6500 Euros, while the lighter version from the second half of the war ranges from 4200-5800 Euros.
German Cross in Silver, Manufacturer C.E. Juncker, Berlin
Timeless-History
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