| The Iron Cross ("Eiserne
Kreuz") was only instituted during major wars: firstly in
1813-15, then in 1870-71, then in 1914-18 and later in 1939-45.
It was not awarded on smaller campaigns such as the Schleswig
Wars, the Austro-Prussian War or colonial campaigns. Therefore
the only soldiers wearing one in the colonies prior to the First
World War would have been veterans of the Franco-Prussian War of
1870-71, few of whom were still in service except in the higher
ranks (for example Lothar von Trotha wore his 1870 Iron Cross
while in China, East Africa and South West Africa). In 1895
recipients of the 1870 Iron Cross were authorised to purchase
and wear a white metal clasp of oak leaves with the number 25 on
the medal ribbon.
The Iron Cross came in three classes.
The lowest and most common of which was the Second Class, which
was worn on parade as a black metal cross edged in white metal,
with the Prussian King's crown and monogram and the year of
institution on it, hung from a white ribbon with two black
stripes on either side and a thick black stripe down the centre.
When not on parade the Iron Cross second class was usually
abbreviated to simply the medal ribbon worn in the second button
hole. The First Class award was only awarded after a previous
award of the second class and was worn as a similar black
cross badge worn on the left breast. The higher Grand Cross ("Großkreuz") was rarely awarded and only to high
ranking officers. It consisted of a similar but larger cross
worn at the throat. The Iron Cross for non combatants was worn
with a ribbon in reversed black and white stripes.
Recommended External Links - Digger History page on the Iron Cross and World War One page on the Iron Cross
Although the Iron Cross was a very
common award during the First World War amongst German soldiers and
sailors in
Europe (and in the Ottoman Empire) it was rarely seen in Africa or the Far East. When war broke
out in 1914 and the colonies were cut off from the homeland, there were no Iron Crosses available for immediate
issue in the overseas territories.
The Iron Cross
and Hildegard Order in South West Africa
In South West Africa temporary Iron Crosses were awarded by the
Schutztruppe Commander, Oberstleutnant von Heydebreck from 1914.
The medals consisted simply of a piece of black cloth cut into
the shape of an Iron Cross and edged with white wool stitching.
They were worn on the left breast in the style of an Iron Cross,
first class. They were hand made by Frau Hildegard Seitz, the
colonial Governor's wife, and her friends serving as nurses and
thus became known as the Hildegard Order ("Hildegard Orden").
The few examples that have survived show some difference in
their size and manufacture due to their handmade nature. In all,
45 Hildegard Orders were awarded. When the recipients finally
returned to Germany they were awarded 2nd Class Iron Crosses in
their place.
Von Heydebreck was
killed in an accident in November 1914 and his successor Major
Franke, seemingly did not approve of the Hildegard Order. No
more temporary Iron Crosses were awarded after von Heydebreck's
final recommendations were issued in January 1915. From then
until the Schutztruppe's surrender in July 1915 very few Iron
Crosses were confirmed. Those that were simply had their
recommendations held on record, with the actual medal to be
collected after the war. Including Hildegard Orders and
recommendations after the war was over 466 Second Class and
fifteen First Class Iron Crosses were awarded for action in
South West Africa between 1914 and 1915.
Highly Recommended Reading - "For
Valour - The history of the Iron Cross and Wound Badge in German
Southwest Africa 1914-1918" by Gordon McGregor
The Iron Cross in
East Africa
In East Africa, the Schutztruppe commander, Oberstleutnant von
Lettow-Vorbeck was reluctant to hand out promises of awards to
his men without the actual medals being to hand. The only Iron
Crosses to arrive in the colony were those brought by the
blockade running ship "Marie" in 1916. She carried 100 First
Class medals (of which recommendations were for von
Lettow-Vorbeck, Governor Schnee and the SMS Königsberg's
Captain, Looff. Von Lettow-Vorbeck awarded his German officers
and NCOs more during the campaign. In total 22 were awarded
during the war) and 1,000 Second Class medals (of which 548 were
awarded during the war). More awards were most likely approved
retrospectively for action in East Africa during the First World
War but I have not found figures for them yet.
The Iron Cross in
Cameroon
Period photographs (seen at Deutsche-Kriegsgeschichte) show that temporary Iron Crosses (similar to
the South West African Hildegard Order) were awarded in Cameroon
during the First World War. Up until November 1918 4 First Class
and 125 Second Class Iron Crosses were recommended for actions
in Cameroon 1914-16. More awards were probably made after
November 1918 but I do not have figures for them yet.
One popular
misunderstanding is that a Cameroon soldier was awarded both the
Prussian Iron Cross and the British Military Medal. In fact
Chari Maigumeri was not awarded the Iron Cross but more likely
the Warriors Merit Medal ("Kriegerverdienstmedaille") for
African soldiers during his service in the Cameroon Schutztruppe
in the First World War (two First Class Silver Warriors Merit
Medals were awarded to African soldiers in the Cameroon
Schutztruppe for action in the First World War). After the fall
of German Cameroon, Maigumeri enlisted in the British Nigerian
forces and saw action in East Africa against von
Lettow-Vorbeck's Schutztruppe. He later served in Abyssinia
against the Italians and Burma against the Japanese in the
Second World War. He also took part in the coronation of Queen
Elisabeth II in 1953. For his British and Nigerian service he
was awarded the British Military Medal and the British Empire
Medal. An army barracks in Lokoja, Nigeria is now named after
him.
Highly Recommended Reading - "Askari und Fita-Fita" by Thomas
Morlang
The Iron Cross in
Togo
According to the Deutsches Kolonialblatt in 1918 the Iron Cross was
retrospectively awarded to five men for service in the Togo
campaign of 1914 before November 1918.
-Vizefeldwebel der
Landwehr Karl Gramatte (second in command of the Polizeitruppe) awarded the Iron Cross,
second class on 20th January 1918
-Vizefeldwebel der Landwehr Wilhelm Brauer (the Polizeimeister
in Kere–Kratschi) awarded the Iron Cross, second class on 20th
January 1918
-Veterinär d.R. Dr. Kurt Sommerfeld awarded the Iron Cross,
second class on 28th April 1918
-Major a.D. Hans Georg von Doering (the acting Governor of the colony in 1914) awarded the Iron Cross,
second class on 28th August 1918
-Unteroffizier der Landsturm Schulemann awarded the Iron Cross,
second class on 28th August 1918
It is quite possible that later awards were also approved for
action in Togo but I
do not have figures for them yet.
The Iron Cross in
Tsingtao
There were no temporary medals made in Tsingtao during the siege
in 1914. The Iron Cross was however retrospectively awarded to
servicemen for actions at Tsingtao upon their return to Germany
(for example the pilot Gunther Plüschow, arrived home from
Tsingtao in August 1915 and only then received his Iron Cross
personally from Kaiser Wilhelm II). I have so far found no
figures to show how many awards were made for the action at
Tsingtao.
The Iron Cross in
New Guinea
According to the Deutsches Kolonialblatt in 1918 the Iron Cross was
retrospectively awarded before November 1918 to thirteen men for
service in the New Guinea campaign of 1914. Most of those named
are colonial officials and government workers who earned their
awards fighting as reservists.
- Geheimen Regierungsrat, Iron Cross first class
- Referenten Schlettwein, Iron Cross first class
- Sekretär Schuppert, Iron Cross first class
- Polizeimeister Kraus,
Iron Cross first class
- Polizeimeister Wiesner, Iron Cross first class
- Geheimen Regierungsrat Peters,
Iron Cross second class
- Regierungsarzt Dr. Schaumberg,
Iron Cross second class
- Bakteriologen Dr. med. Schwarz,
Iron Cross second class
- Regierungsbaumeister Lose,
Iron Cross second class
- Sekretär Knapke, Iron Cross second class
- Bureaugehilfen Leitner, Iron Cross, second class,
- Bureaugehilfen Engel, Iron Cross, second class
- Polizeisergeant Voß, Iron Cross, second class.
At
least one other award was also made for service in New Guinea to Hauptmann Hermann
Detzner who evaded capture by the occupying Australians until
after the Armistice in 1918 and was awarded the Iron Cross,
first class. As in the other colonies it is possible that more
Iron Crosses were retrospectively awarded after the end of the
war. |
