The Spanish Cross (german: Spanien-Kreuz) was an award of Nazi Germany given to German troops who participated in the

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, lin ...

, fighting for nationalist general, later Spanish

caudillo A ''caudillo'' ( , ; osp, cabdillo, from Latin , diminutive of ''caput'' "head") is a type of personalist leader wielding military and political power. There is no precise definition of ''caudillo'', which is often used interchangeably with " ...

Francisco Franco Francisco Franco Bahamonde (; 4 December 1892 – 20 November 1975) was a Spanish general who led the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalist forces in overthrowing the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War ...

.Wehrmacht awards.com: Spanish Cross
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History

With the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in July 1936,

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

sent the

Condor Legion The Condor Legion (german: Legion Condor) was a unit composed of military personnel from the air force and army of Nazi Germany, which served with the Nationalist faction during the Spanish Civil War of July 1936 to March 1939. The Condor Legio ...

, drawn from the German

air force An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an a ...

and

army An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...

, to aid Franco's Nationalist forces. On 14 April 1939, Germany instituted the Spanish Cross as a decoration for the German airmen and soldiers who fought in the Condor Legion during the war. A number of

German Navy The German Navy (, ) is the navy of Germany and part of the unified ''Bundeswehr'' (Federal Defense), the German Armed Forces. The German Navy was originally known as the ''Bundesmarine'' (Federal Navy) from 1956 to 1995, when ''Deutsche Mari ...

ships served in Spanish waters, their crew also qualifying for the cross. The Spanish Cross was to be worn on the right breast below the pocket flap or, if awarded, below the

Blood Order The Blood Order (german: Blutorden), officially known as the "Decoration in Memory (of the Munich putsch) of 9 November 1923" (), was one of the most prestigious decorations in the Nazi Party (NSDAP). During March 1934, Hitler authorized the Bl ...

. After the death of the recipient, the award remains with the next-of-kin. The wear of Nazi era awards was banned in 1945. The Spanish Cross was not among those awards reauthorised for official wear by the

Federal Republic of Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated between ...

in 1957.

Classes

The Spanish Cross filled the dual role of gallantry decoration and campaign medal. The Cross was awarded in Gold, Silver and Bronze classes to reflect the rank or merit of the recipient. The Silver and Bronze classes were awarded with and without swords, the Gold only with swords. For outstanding bravery in combat, the Gold class could be awarded with diamonds. Each class, and the numbers awarded, were:

Bronze

The non-combatant version was awarded without swords to military personnel or civilian technicians for three months of service in

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

without combat experience. 7,869 bronze crosses were awarded. Spanish Cross (BRONZE)

Bronze with Swords

The Spanish Cross in Bronze with Swords was given to individuals involved in front line combat during the war. 8,462 bronze crosses with swords were awarded.

Silver

The Silver Cross without swords was a non-combatant version awarded for merit. 327 silver crosses were awarded.

Silver with Swords

The Spanish Cross in Silver was awarded to servicemen who took part in decisive battles or had considerable fighting experience. 8,304 silver crosses with swords were awarded.

Gold

The Spanish Cross in Gold was awarded, only with swords, to servicemen who showed great merit in combat or exceptional leadership. 1,126 gold crosses were awarded.

Gold with Diamonds

The Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds was the highest grade of the decoration. It was awarded to those who showed great leadership skills in battle or great merit. 28 gold crosses with diamonds were awarded, one of which was presented to Adolf Galland.

Next of Kin

A Cross of Honour for relatives of the German dead in Spain (german: Ehrenkreuz für hinterbliebene Deutscher Spanienkämpfer) was awarded to relatives of servicemen who died during their service in Spain. 315 next of kin crosses were awarded.

Design

The Spanish Cross is a Maltese cross with, in its centre, a

swastika The swastika (卐 or 卍) is an ancient religious and cultural symbol, predominantly in various Eurasian, as well as some African and American cultures, now also widely recognized for its appropriation by the Nazi Party and by neo-Nazis. It ...

on a roundel. Between each arm of the cross is the

Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...

eagle and, for the versions with swords, two crossed swords, placed behind the eagle symbols. The diamond class had brilliants placed around the swastika in the central roundel. The reverse side is plain and has a pin used for wearing the cross on the uniform. The cross for next of kin is bronze and similar to the cross without swords, but smaller in size. Unlike the others, it is attached to a ribbon in black with edges in red, yellow, and red (the colours of the

Spanish flag The national flag of Spain ( es, Bandera de España), as it is defined in the Constitution of 1978, consists of three horizontal stripes: red, yellow and red, the yellow stripe being twice the size of each red stripe. Traditionally, the middle ...

Recipients

Walter Adolph Walter Adolph (11 June 1913 – 18 September 1941) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator in the Spanish Civil War and a fighter ace during World War II. He is credited with 25 aerial victories, including one in Spain, achieved in 79 combat mi ...

Wilhelm Balthasar Wilhelm Balthasar (2 February 1914 – 3 July 1941) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and wing commander during World War II. As a fighter ace, he is credited with seven aerial victories during the Spanish Civil War and further 40 aerial ...

* *

Hans-Henning Freiherr von Beust Hans-Henning Freiherr von Beust (17 April 1913 – 27 March 1991) was an officer in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany during World War II who commanded the 27th Bomber Wing. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak L ...

Gerhard Bigalk Gerhard Bigalk (26 November 1908 – 17 July 1942) was a captain with the ''Kriegsmarine'' during World War II and commander of . He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Career Bigalk spent some years in the ...

Hermann Boehm (admiral) Hermann Boehm (18 January 1884, Rybnik – 11 April 1972, Kiel) was a German naval officer who rose to the rank of General Admiral during the Second World War. Military service Boehm joined the Kaiserliche Marine on 1 April 1903 as a cadet and ...

Kurt Böhmer __NOTOC__ Kurt Böhmer (31 December 1892 – 1 October 1944) was an officer in the Kriegsmarine of Nazi Germany who commanded the 9th Security Division from 17 June 1944. He was shot and killed on a hunting trip together with three foresters at Ve ...

Hubertus von Bonin Hubertus von Bonin (3 August 1911 – 15 December 1943) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, a fighter ace listed with 77 enemy aircraft shot down. He claimed four victories in the Spanish Civil ...

Eberhard Bopst Eberhard Bopst (25 December 1913 – 12 October 1942) was a German U-boat commander in World War II. Naval career Eberhard Bopst joined the ''Reichsmarine'' in April 1933 and prior to transferring to the U-boat section served on the destroyers ' ...

Leopold Bürkner Leopold Bürkner (29 January 1894 - 15 July 1975) was a German naval officer who served on torpedo boats in World War I. In the post-war period he served on a pocket battleship that patrolled the Spanish coast during the Spanish Civil War and then ...

Rolf Carls Rolf Hans Wilhelm Karl Carls (29 May 1885 – 24 April 1945) was a high-ranking German admiral during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Carls served as ''Flottenchef'' (Fleet Commander), th ...

Otto Ciliax Otto Ciliax (30 October 1891 – 12 December 1964) was a German naval officer who served in the navies of the German Empire, the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. As an admiral during World War II, he commanded the German battleships. He was a re ...

* Hans Degen *

Ulrich Diesing Ulrich Diesing (12 March 1911 – 17 April 1945) was a German pilot in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. On 17 April 1945, Ulrich Diesing was killed in an accident near B ...

Oskar Dirlewanger Oskar Paul Dirlewanger (26 September 1895 – ) was a German military officer ('' SS-Oberführer'') who served as the founder and commander of the Nazi SS penal unit "Dirlewanger" during World War II. Serving in Poland and in Belarus, his nam ...

* Paul Drekmann *

Walter Ehle Walter Ehle (28 April 1913 – 18 November 1943) was a Luftwaffe night fighter fighter ace, ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battle ...

* Hans Ehlers *

Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber (10 August 1914 – 13 May 1996) was a German Luftwaffe officer in the Spanish Civil War and World War II. During the Spanish Civil War, he flew with ''Kampfgruppe'' 88 of the Condor Legion as an air observer. During ...

Engelbert Endrass Engelbert Endrass (german: Engelbert Endraß) (2 March 1911 – 21 December 1941) was a German U-boat commander in World War II. He commanded the and the , being credited with sinking 22 ships on ten patrols, for a total of of Allied shipping, ...

Wolfgang Ewald Wolfgang Ewald (26 March 1911 – 24 February 1995) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or succ ...

* Klaus Ewerth *

Fritz Frauenheim Fritz Frauenheim (9 January 1912 – 28 September 1969) was a German U-boat commander of the Second World War. From September 1939 until retiring from front line service in December 1940, he sank 19 ships for a total of , and damaged two others. H ...

Hans-Georg von Friedeburg Hans-Georg von Friedeburg (15 July 1895 – 23 May 1945) was a German admiral, the deputy commander of the U-boat Forces of Nazi Germany and the second-to-last Commander-in-Chief of the Kriegsmarine. He was the only representative of the armed ...

* Hans von Funck * Adolf Galland* * Walter Grabmann *

Karl-Heinz Greisert Karl-Heinz Greisert (2 February 1908 – 22 July 1942) was an officer in the Luftwaffe. He served in the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War. During the Second World War he participated in the air battles over France and England. He was ma ...

Robert Gysae Robert Karl Friedrich Gysae (14 January 1911 – 26 April 1989) was a German U-boat commander in the ''Kriegsmarine'' during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. Gysae commanded ...

Gotthard Handrick Gotthard Handrick (25 October 1908 – 30 May 1978) was a German Olympic athlete and German fighter pilot during the Spanish Civil War and World War II. Career Handrick was born on 25 October 1908 in Zittau, at the time in the Kingdom of Saxony ...

* Martin Harlinghausen* *

Werner Hartenstein Werner Hartenstein (27 February 1908 – 8 March 1943) was a German naval officer during World War II who commanded the U-boat . He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary ...

* Hans Heidtmann *

Werner Henke Werner Henke (13 May 1909 – 15 June 1944) was the commander of in the Battle of the Atlantic of World War II. ''U-515'' was sunk by the US task group 22.3, commanded by Daniel V. Gallery on 9 April 1944 and Henke was captured along with about ...

Hajo Herrmann Hans-Joachim "Hajo" Herrmann (1 August 1913 – 5 November 2010) was a World War II Luftwaffe pilot and officer and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. After the war Hermann became a Nazi activist and l ...

* Johannes Hintz *

Erich Hippke Erich Hippke (7 March 1888 – 10 June 1969) was a German Air Force General Surgeon with the rank of Generaloberstabsarzt. He is most noted as Chief Medical Officer of the Luftwaffe and subsequent Inspector of the Medical Matters for the Luf ...

Hermann Hogeback Hermann Hogeback (25 August 1914 – 15 February 2004) was a German bomber pilot during the Nazi era. He flew more than 100 operational sorties during the Spanish Civil War and 500 during World War II and was a recipient of the Knight's Cross o ...

Herbert Ihlefeld Herbert Ihlefeld (1 June 1914 – 8 August 1995) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, a fighter ace listed with 130 enemy aircraft shot down in over 1,000 combat missions. He claimed seven ...

Rolf Johannesson __NOTOC__ Rolf Johannesson (22 July 1900 – 6 December 1989) was a German admiral during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. He joined the post-war Bundesmarine in 1957 and retired in 1961 as ...

Bernhard Jope Bernhard Jope (10 May 1914 – 31 July 1995) was a German bomber pilot during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. As part of Kampfgeschwader 40 (bomber wing), Jope flew missio ...

Rolf Kaldrack Rolf Kaldrack (25 June 1913 – 3 February 1942) was a Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooti ...

* Bernd Klug * Karl-Heinz Krahl *

Fritz-Julius Lemp Fritz-Julius Lemp (19 February 1913 – 9 May 1941) was a captain in the Kriegsmarine during World War II and commander of , and . He sank the British passenger liner in September 1939, in violation of the Hague conventions. Germany's respon ...

* Wolfgang Lippert (pilot) *

Fritz Losigkeit Fritz Losigkeit (17 November 1913 – 14 January 1994) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during the Spanish Civil War and wing commander during World War II. As a fighter ace, he is credited with 68 aerial victories in approximately ...

Walther Lucht __NOTOC__ Walter Lucht (26 February 1882 – 18 March 1949) was a German general in the Wehrmacht during World War II who held commands at division, corps and army levels. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves ...

Wolfgang Lüth Wolfgang Lüth (15 October 1913 – 14 May 1945) was a German U-boat captain of World War II who was credited with the sinking of 46 merchant ships plus the sunk during 15 war patrols, for a total tonnage of . Lüth joined the ''Reichsmarine' ...

Günther Lützow Günther Lützow (4 September 1912 – 24 April 1945) was a German Luftwaffe aviator and fighter ace credited with 110 enemy aircraft shot down in over 300 combat missions. Apart from five victories during the Spanish Civil War, most of his cl ...

* *

August Maus August Maus (7 February 1915 – 28 September 1996) was a German U-boat commander in World War II and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Prior to taking command of , he served as an officer on under the command of ...

* Hans-Karl Mayer * Wilhelm Meentzen *

Wilhelm Meisel __NOTOC__ Wilhelm Meisel (4 November 1891 – 7 September 1974) was an Admiral of the Kriegsmarine of Nazi Germany during World War II and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Meisel was born in Zwickau and joined the Navy as a m ...

* Karl-Friedrich Merten *

Walter Model Otto Moritz Walter Model (; 24 January 1891 – 21 April 1945) was a German field marshal during World War II. Although he was a hard-driving, aggressive panzer commander early in the war, Model became best known as a practitioner of defen ...

Johann Mohr __NOTOC__ Johann Mohr (12 June 1916 – 2 April 1943) was a captain with the ''Kriegsmarine'' during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. Mohr joined the ''Reichsmarine'' in 193 ...

Werner Mölders Werner Mölders (18 March 1913 – 22 November 1941) was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot, wing commander, and the leading German fighter ace in the Spanish Civil War. He became the first pilot in aviation history to shoot down 10 ...

* *

Heinz Neukirchen Heinz Neukirchen (13 January 1915 – 8 December 1986) was an officer of the Kriegsmarine in World War II, and a ''Vizeadmiral'' in the People's Navy ( Volksmarine) of the German Democratic Republic as well as President of the East German Directo ...

Eduard Neumann (fighter pilot) Eduard "Edu" Neumann (5 June 1911 – 9 August 2004) was a Luftwaffe officer and commanded the Jagdgeschwader 27 ‘Afrika’ during the North African Campaign from 1941 to 1943. The day after scoring his first (World War II) victory during t ...

Walter Oesau Walter "Gulle" Oesau (28 June 1913 – 11 May 1944) was a German fighter pilot during World War II. A fighter ace, he served in the Luftwaffe from 1934 until his death in 1944. He rose to command ''Jagdgeschwader'' 1, which was named in his hon ...

* *

Jürgen Oesten Jürgen Oesten (24 October 1913 – 5 August 2010) was a ''Korvettenkapitän'' in the ''Kriegsmarine'' during World War II. He commanded the U-boats and , and then served as a staff officer before returning to command . He sank nineteen ships for ...

Adolf Piening Adolf Cornelius Piening (16 September 1910 – 15 May 1984) was a German naval officer. During World War II, he served in the ''Kriegsmarine'' and commanded the Type IXC U-boat , sinking twenty-six ships on nine patrols, for a total of of Allied ...

* Rolf Pingel *

Hermann Plocher __NOTOC__ Hermann Lukas Plocher (5 January 1901 – 8 December 1980) was a German general during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. Awards * Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class ( ...

Günther Radusch Günther Radusch (11 November 1912 – 29 July 1988) was a World War II German Luftwaffe pilot and wing commander. As a fighter ace, he claimed 65 enemy aircraft shot down in over 140 combat missions. He claimed one victory in the Spanish Civil Wa ...

* Hermann Rasch * Hansjürgen Reinicke *

Rudolf Resch Rudolf Resch (7 April 1914 – 11 July 1943) was a German Luftwaffe military aviation, military aviator during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, a fighter ace listed with 94 enemy aircraft shot down. A flying ace or fighter ace is a mi ...

Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen Wolfram Karl Ludwig Moritz Hermann Freiherr von Richthofen (10 October 1895 – 12 July 1945) was a German World War I flying ace who rose to the rank of '' Generalfeldmarschall'' in the Luftwaffe during World War II. Born in 1895 into a f ...

* *

Gustav Rödel Gustav Rödel (24 October 1915 – 6 February 1995) was a German fighter pilot and fighter ace who served during World War II in the Luftwaffe. Gustav Rödel was born on 24 October 1915 in Saxony. In 1933 the Nazis came to power in Germany. Rödel ...

* Helmut Rosenbaum * Jürgen von Rosenstiel * Wolfgang Schellmann* * Joachim Schlichting* *

Johann Schmid Johann Schmid (13 January 1911 – 6 November 1941) was an Austrian-born Luftwaffe military aviator during the World War II, a fighter ace listed with 45 enemy aircraft shot down. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with ...

Rudolf Schmidt (Major) Rudolf "Rudi" Schmidt (15 March 1914 – 23 February 2000) was a highly decorated Major in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to re ...

* Herbert Schob *

Georg-Wilhelm Schulz Georg-Wilhelm Schulz (10 March 1906 – 5 July 1986) was a German U-boat commander of the Second World War. From September 1939 until retiring from front line service in September 1941, he sank 19 ships for a total of . For this he received the K ...

Hans Seidemann __NOTOC__ Hans Seidemann (18 January 1901 – 21 December 1967) was a German general during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. From April 1928 to October 1929, Seidemann was ...

* Reinhard Seiler* * Karl Smidt *

Hugo Sperrle Wilhelm Hugo Sperrle (7 February 1885 – 2 April 1953), also known as Hugo Sperrle, was a German military aviator in World War I and a Generalfeldmarschall in the Luftwaffe during World War II. Sperrle joined the Imperial German Army in 1903. ...

* * Albert Stecken *

Alois Stoeckl __NOTOC__ . Alois Stoeckl (also referred to as Alois Stöckl; 22 August 1895 – 14 August 1940) was a German pilot during World War II who commanded the Kampfgeschwader 55, 55th Bomber Wing of the Luftwaffe. He was a recipient of the Knigh ...

Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma Wilhelm Josef Ritter von Thoma (11 September 1891 – 30 April 1948) was a German army officer who served in World War I, in the Spanish Civil War, and as a general in World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Th ...

* *

Horst Tietzen Horst Tietzen (19 July 1912 – 18 August 1940) was a German Luftwaffe fighter pilot and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Career Tietzen was born 19 July 1912 at Arnswalde (today Choszczno in Poland). As a ' ...

* Werner Töniges *

Hannes Trautloft Johannes "Hannes" Trautloft (3 March 1912 – 11 January 1995) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, and general in the postwar German Air Force. As a fighter ace, he is credited with 58 enemy ai ...

Heinrich Trettner Heinrich "Heinz" Trettner (19 September 1907 – 18 September 2006) was a German general who served in the Spanish Civil War, and during World War II and the Cold War. From 1964 to 1966 he served as Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, the he ...

Joachim Wandel Joachim "Gnom" Wandel (7 May 1914 – 7 October 1942) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator in the Spanish Civil War and a fighter ace during World War II. He is credited with 75 victories, two over the Western Front and 73 over the Easter ...

Kurt Weyher __NOTOC__ Kurt August Viktor Weyher (30 August 1901 – 17 December 1991) was a German rear admiral of the navy (Kriegsmarine) of Nazi Germany. During World War II, he commanded a merchant raider. Although it was not mentioned in his book "The Bl ...

* Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke *

Joachim Ziegler Joachim Ziegler (2 October 1904 – 2 May 1945) was a high-ranking commander in the Waffen-SS of Nazi Germany during World War II. He was a commander of the SS Division Nordland, and was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak ...

* Felix Zymalkowski ''* Won the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds'' version

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * * * {{Subject bar , portal1=Military of Germany , portal2=World War II Awards established in 1939 1939 establishments in Germany Military awards and decorations of Nazi Germany Spain in World War II German campaign medals Germany–Spain military relations Military awards and decorations of the Spanish Civil War