Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-12-01
HISTORIC IRON CROSS
Dates Back to the crusades Though
Revived in 1873.

Dates Back to the Crusades tnou9n
Revived in 1873.
Shortly after the outbreak OF the
pan European war, dispatches from
Berlin conveyed the information that
Kaiser Wilhelm had revived the Order
Of the Iron Cross and was decorating
certain officers and soldiers who had
distinguished themselves on the French
frontier with the insignia Of the noble
order. The militant crown prince was
one Of the first German officers to re-
ceive the coveted badge Of honor. His
father, who hitherto had tried to hold
the crown princes warlike tendencies
in check, had deemed the sons activi-
ties around Metz worthy Of recogni-
ton.
To many the revival meant nothing,
for 1t had never existed to their knowl-
edge. There is little written about 1t.
Nevertheless 1t Is one Of the oldest
military honor legions in existence,
says the Chicago Tribune.
Although 1t Is recorded that on
March 10, 1913, Frederick William Ill
founded the Order Of the Iron Cross.
the origin Of the legion dates back to
the Crusades.
During the siege Of Acre, in 1190,
Barbarossa's army Of the crudes was
at a disadvantage in comparison with
the Templars and the Hospitallers. as
the English and French army orders
were called. The latter had well or
ganized corps for taking care OF the
wounded, sick and dead. The Germans
d;d not Thay fought xxyifn0nt ahplfar
medicine, and with little food.
To relieve the situation, a company
Of ship captains, headed by a certain
Walpot Won Bassenheim, citizen OF
Bremen, was organized to render such
assistance as they could to the fight
ing Teutons. They used canvass tents
for hospitals and went first under the
name of knights Hospitallers Of Our
Dear Lady Of Mount Zion." This cum
bersome title was later changed to the
German Order of st. Mary" or "Teut-
sche Ritter Won der Marie Orden." and
finally abbreviated to "Teutsche Rit-
terthum."
The chivalric order then bound its
members to fidelity and fortitude by
sacred VOW. It became powerful
through rich bequests until its main
interests were no longer in Palestine,
but in Venice. Thither its headquar-
ters were transferred in A. D. 120, by
Hermann Won der Salza. The order
was in great favor with the pope at the
time.
Sixteen years later the Crusaders,
no longer having to prosecute a mes
sage in the direction Of Palestine,
turned their attention to Prussia.
Prussia was inviting the attention OF
the order by reason Of the fact that 1t
was frantically Christian. The
Bishop Of Prussia was only titular; ne
dared not live in Prussia. He lived In
Liefland, among the Bremen trading
settlers.
The titular bishop, worrying over the
suaded the order to come to Prussia,
and convert the Prussians by force.
The work was carried out, the two
races intermingled and Prussia became
thoroughly Christian.
There was also a superior decora.
ton Of double size, called the grand
cross This was reserved for officers
Of high rank who had successfully car
ried out a campaign, won a decisive
battle or conducted a brave defense.
The sign Of the order as 1t now ex-
lists is a cross in the shape OF cross
pattee, much like a Maltese cross or
plus sign, except that the arms OF the
cross become wider as they extend
further The cross Is made Of iron
with silver edges and mountings.
One side is entirely plain. The other
has on its upper limb the initials Fl.
W." which stand for Frederick Will
liam. Above the initials is the imperi-
al crown. The centre Of the cross
bears oak leaves, the meaning Of which
seems to be lost. On the bottom limb
is the date Of the founding Of the or