Germany’s highest WWII award depends on how you define “highest”. The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross outranked every other decoration, but the usual account is that it was awarded only once in the war, to Hermann Göring in 1940. In practice, the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award most recipients reached, and it is the one people usually mean. The Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross is a separate award with a similar name. It was created for war service that was not combat.
Two awards with similar names
Both awards are called the Knight’s Cross (Ritterkreuz), and both were worn at the neck. They belong to different series, though. The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross was part of the Iron Cross series, while the Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross belonged to the War Merit Cross series. Listings often shorten the name to “Knight’s Cross”, so check the cross design, the ribbon and the series before you assume which award a piece is.
The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross
Origins and grades
The Iron Cross was first created in Prussia in 1813. Its WWII series was renewed on 1 September 1939, and the Knight’s Cross was introduced on the same date as a grade above the Iron Cross, below the Grand Cross. It took over, in WWII, the role the Prussian Pour le Mérite had played as the top battlefield award in the First World War.
Higher grades were added during the war:
- Oak Leaves (1940)
- Oak Leaves and Swords (1941)
- Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (1941)
- Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds: the highest and rarest grade, awarded to one man, the Stuka pilot Hans-Ulrich Rudel, in late 1944
The Grand Cross
The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest grade in the series and was intended for senior commanders. It was awarded to Göring in 1940 and, as far as the usual accounts go, to no one else in the war.
How many were awarded
Commonly cited figures put the base-grade Knight’s Cross at roughly 7,000 awards during the war, with the higher grades much rarer. These are estimates. Sources disagree, and many wartime records were lost, so treat any exact figure with caution.
The Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross
The War Merit Cross was a German decoration created in 1939 for civilian and military service in the war effort. Its Knight’s Cross grade was instituted in 1940. It came in two versions:
- With swords: for merit under enemy action or service connected with combat conditions. It could go to military personnel and to some civilians.
- Without swords: for high-level non-combat service that advanced the war effort, such as production, administration and engineering.
Both versions were worn at the neck. Awards were very small in number, with a few hundred in total across both versions. Exact counts vary by source. A gold grade was proposed late in the war, but its status is disputed. A piece claimed to be a gold grade needs careful documentation before you accept the claim.
The 1957 veterans’ version
Post-war versions were made for veterans without the wartime Nazi emblems. A version from 1957 is one example. Collectors treat these separately from wartime pieces. They are usually much less valuable, and a listing that does not state the version should be checked.
Common questions
What are the different variants of the Iron Cross?
The main variants are the 1813, 1870 and 1914 series, and the 1939 series of the Second World War. The 1939 series carries the date 1939 and has a swastika at the centre. Each series came in grades: the 2nd Class, worn at the buttonhole on a ribbon, and the 1st Class, pinned to the breast. The Grand Cross and the Knight’s Cross sat above these. For the 1939 crosses, see how to identify a real WWII Iron Cross.
What medals did soldiers get in WWII?
Many soldiers received several awards over their service. Common ones included the Iron Cross, the Wound Badge, combat badges and campaign medals such as the Eastern Front Medal. For how decorations and medals are grouped across countries, see military decorations and medals. The WWII German military badges pillar guide explains how the badges and decorations fit together.
What is the highest honor in Germany?
For the Second World War, the answer is the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, with the Knight’s Cross as the highest award most recipients reached. Today, the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany is the country’s main civilian honour. “Highest” depends on the period and the field, so ask which one a question means. The same question for Britain is answered in what is Britain’s most prestigious military decoration?
How many Iron Crosses were awarded in WWII?
Millions of the lower grades were awarded, and far fewer of the higher ones. Exact totals are uncertain because records are incomplete. Treat any single figure with caution.
Are there any Knight’s Cross recipients still alive today?
This is hard to answer with certainty, because the records are incomplete and claims are difficult to verify. Treat any claim about a living recipient as unconfirmed unless it can be checked against a reliable source.
How much is a German Iron Cross worth today?
This article does not give values. Value depends on the grade, the maker, the condition, the documentation and the provenance. A piece with a named, credible award document is worth far more than one without. Get an independent appraisal before buying or selling. The general factors are covered in military medal values.
Collecting notes
Documentation matters more than appearance at this level. Named award documents, investiture photographs and clear provenance are the strongest evidence. Check the construction, markings and ribbon against reliable references, and read the identification guide for the common checks. The Iron Cross’s design also has a Teutonic origin, which is covered in what the Teutonic cross means.
The 1939 Iron Cross and its variants carry Nazi-era symbols. Germany restricts the display and sale of such symbols, so check the law before you buy, sell or display one. The pillar guide has more detail.