The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Prussian Grand Cross of the Order of the Iron Cross. A cross pattée of a blackened iron with a two piece silver beaded edge. Obverse: The Prussian crown over 'W' in the centre and 1914 below. Reverse: The Prussian crown over 'FW' (Friedrich William) on the top arm, a three oak leaf spray in the centre and '1813' on the lower arm. The cross is fitted with a flat silver wire loop suspender and a piece of 55 mm black ribbon with a 13 mm white stripe near each edge.
The highest award in Germany during the First World War was the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross. It could only be awarded to men of general's rank. There were five recipients of the Grand Cross in this war. They were Kaiser Wilhelm II, Generalfeldmarschall Paul Ludwig von Hindenburg, General der Infanterie Erich Ludendorf, Generalfeldmarschall Prinz Maximillian Joseph Maris Arnuf, and Generalfeldmarschall August von Mackensen. Adolf Hitler reinstated the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross on 1 September 1939 but only one award was made, to Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering for his command of the Luftwaffe during the campaigns in France and the Low Countries in 1940. The Grand Cross in the Memorial collection is believed to be an authentic unissued example. It forms part of a collection assembled by the Memorial in the 1920s for display.
Prussian Iron Cross, Second Class (1914). A cross patee made of of a blackened iron with a two piece silver beaded edge. Obverse: The Prussian crown over 'W' in the centre and 1914 below. Reverse: The
Prussian Pour Le Merite Grand Cross. A Maltese Cross in blue enamel, edged in gold, with a golden eagle between each of the arms. Obverse: The bust of Frederick William III, Emperor of Prussia, facing
Prussian Iron Cross Breast Star (1914). A First Class Iron Cross bolted to a concave radiant eight-pointed silver gilt star. Obverse: A cross patee of iron with a Prussian crown over 'W' in the centre
German Iron Cross, Second Class, unnamed as issued. A cross pattee in black iron edged with silver. The obverse features the letter, 'W' in the centre with a crown on the upper arm and '1914' on the l
Grosskreuz (Grand Cross) of the Iron Cross. From 1813 to the end of 1918 only 19 were awarded. The pattern is the same as for all Iron Crosses but the size is much bigger, 61mm square. The ribbon is b
Iron Cross Second Class, 1939, with original ribbon. Unnamed as issued. The Iron Cross (in First, Second and Grand Cross Classes) was first introduced by Kaiser Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia in 1
