The Spanish Cross (German: Spanienkreuz) was an award of Germany given by Adolf Hitler to Germans, who participated in the Spanish Civil War, fighting for Franco. The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. Awards and Decorations of Nazi Germany were military political and civilian decorations which were bestowed between 1923 and 1945 by the Nazi Party and later the state of Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately The Spanish Civil War was a major conflict in Spain that started after an attempted Coup d'état committed by parts of the army against the government of
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History
With the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War, Germany sent military forces, the Condor Legion to the aid of Francisco Franco's nationalist forces. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The Condor Legion (Legion Condor was a unit composed of "volunteers" from the German Air Force ( Luftwaffe) which served with the Nationalist Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco y Bahamonde (born December 4, 1892 in Ferrol, died November 20, 1975 in Madrid
After the war a decoration for the German soldiers who fought in the Spanish civil war was created. So in April 14, 1939 the Spanish Cross was instituted.
Classes
Bronze
The non-combatant version was awarded for three months of service in Spain. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.
7869 bronze crosses were awarded.
Bronze with Swords
The Spanish Cross in Bronze with Swords was given for showing merit during the war.
8462 bronze with Swords crosses were awarded.
Silver
The Silver Cross was a non-combatant version awarded for merit.
327 silver crosses were awarded.
Silver with Swords
The Spanish Cross in Silver was awarded to the soldiers who took part in decisive battles or had a considerable fighting experience.
8304 silver crosses with swords were awarded.
Gold
The Spanish Cross in Gold was awarded to a soldier who showed great merits in combat or achieved uncanny accomplishments.
1126 gold crosses were awarded.
Gold with Diamonds
The Spanish Cross in Gold with Diamonds was the highest rank of the decoration. It was awarded to those who showed great leadership skills in battle or great merits.
28 gold crosses with diamonds were awarded. (Sperrle, Volkmann, Richthofen, von Thoma, Mehnert, Harlinghausen, Wolff, Harder, Lützow, Mölders, von Moreau, Neudörffer, Schellmann, Schlichting, Balthasar, Bertram, Enslen, Galland, Hoyos, von Kessel, Kraft, Oesau, Seiler, Stärcke, Boddem, Fehlhalber, Henrici, Runze)*
* ordered by rank, beginning with General der Flieger
Next of Kin
The Spanish Cross for Next of Kin was awarded to relatives of soldiers who died during their stay in Spain. Hugo Sperrle ( February 7 1885 - April 2 1953) was a German Field marshal of the Luftwaffe during Wilhelm Josef Ritter von Thoma ( September 11, 1891 – April 30, 1948) was a German officer who served in World War I Martin Harlinghausen was a Luftwaffe Commander during World War Two Günther Lützow ( 4 September 1912 - 24 April 1945) was a German Luftwaffe Fighter ace and a leader in the Werner Mölders ( March 18, 1913 – November 22, 1941) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace. Major Wilhelm Balthasar ( February 2, 1914 – July 3, 1941) was German WWII Luftwaffe Ace commander of Otto Bertram ( 30 April 1916 &ndash 8 February 1987) in Freiburg im Breisgau) was a was a German Spanish Civil War Adolf "Dolfo" Joseph Ferdinand Galland ( 19 March 1912 9 February 1996) was a World War II German fighter Oberstleutnant Walter Gulle Oesau ( 28 June 1913 &ndash 11 May 1944) was a German World War II Major Reinhard Seiler ( August 30, 1909 &ndash October 6, 1989) was German Spanish Civil War and World
315 crosses of this class was awarded.
Design
The Spanish Cross is very similar in shape to a Maltese cross. The Maltese cross or Amalfi cross is identified as the symbol of an order of Christian warriors known as the Knights Hospitaller or Knights of Malta In its centre is a swastika, and between each arm of the cross there is the Luftwaffeadler, coats of arms, and two crossed swords (they aren't in the non-combatant version). The swastika (from Sanskrit: svástika sa स्वस्तिक Hindu IS CORRECT if 'ि' is positioned incorrectly see -->) is Diamonds are placed around the swastika in the highest ranking of these awards.
The reverse side is plain and has a pin used for wearing the cross on the uniform.
The cross for next of kin is shaped as a non-combatant cross, only smaller in size. Unlike the other it is attached to a ribbon in black with edges in red, yellow, and red (the colours of the Spanish flag).
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