The Hartford republican., 1914-11-06
THE STORY OF
The IRON CROSS
How the Coveted Decoration Came
Into Being-A Democratic
Distinction.


German soldiers have received the
Iron Cross for conspicuous gallantry
In the field. This German decora-
tion, which is similar in design to
England's Victoria Cross, is said TO
be cast out of guns captured in war,
ard in this connection il carries it's
resemblance to the latter decoration
a little further. inasmuch as it is
said that the Victoria Cross is made
out Of guns captured in the Crimea.
The Frussian order was instituted on
March 10, 1913. by Frederick Will
liam III. It's inception was due to
Gneisenau, who in 1911 proposed to
the king a general rising against
Napoleon, and suggested that all men
who served with distinction in the
field should be decorated with a
black and white scarf or national
cockade. The king, however, favor
cd an emblem in the shape of two
pieces Of black and white ribbon sew
III
breast Of the coat.
Instituted i'm 1913.
The designs against Napoleon did
not mature until after Moscow in
1913, and in that year the Order of
the Iron Cross was instituted, as it
was thought that a decoration of me-
fnI hA ~,
March, 1913. the King of Prussia
decreed that ''in the present critical
state of affairs on which depends
everything for the country, the
brave spirit which the nation has so
grandly shown deserves to be hon
ored and to be commemorated by
some special form of recognition.
We have therefore resolved special
1y to distinguish the merit which in
the war now about to break out shall
be displayed, either in actual fight
.Yitb the enemy or in the field or at
home. in connection with the great
struggle for freedom and independ-
ence, and after this war not again
to bestow this special form of recog-
nition."
Revived for 1870.
By virtue of this decree the Iron
Cross of two classes and a Grand
Cross were instituted. on the ami
versary of the birthday of the late
Queen Luise. Fifty-seven years la
ter, on July 10, 1870, the anniversa-
fy of the death of Queen Luise, was
declared against France. and it is
thought that no better recognition
could be conferred for valor in this
campaign than the order of 1913,
although the king in his decree had
declared that this distinction would
not again be bestowed by King Will
liam reintroduced the Order of the
Iron Cross. I'm view of the serious
situation of the Fatherland," he de-
creed, "and in grateful membrance
OF the heroism of our ancestors in
the great years of the War of Liber-
ty, J revive in its full meaning and
importance the Order of the Iron
Cross instituted by my father, now
In rest with God. The Iron Cross
will be given without distinction of
rank or position as reward for mer-
1t, gained either in actual fight with
the enemy or at home, in connection
with this war for the honor and in
dependence of the beloved coun-
try"
The Two Classes.
Both classes of the Iron Cross
have q precisely similar black cross
of east iron with silver edging. On
the front there is not any inscrip-
tion. The front face of the cross of
1913 is bare of any insignia. On
the reverse of the cross of 1S70-71
III a crown and the date of 1870. In
the center is wv" the initial of the
Christian name of the then King of
Prussia. The cross of 1913 bore the
initials "F w" In the center of
the cross are three oak leaves, and
the presence on the order today of
the dates 1913 and 1S7O-71 indicates
that the soldier upon whom it is
conferred participates by right in the
honors of the previous wars.
The Grand Cross can only he re-
ceived by commander who has
been victorious in decisive battle
after which the enemy has evacuat-
ed his position, or who has captured
an important fortress, or by a COM
nander who has unfiinchingly de-
Tended a fortress which has not fall
len into the enemy's hands. The
Iron Cross is borne on the standards
and colors of the troops, and, like
the Victoria Cross, its bestowal is
not confined TO any one rank. In
the campaign of 1913 3S1 first class