German Cross The German Cross ( ) was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941 . It was awarded in two divisions : gold for repeated acts of bravery or achievement in combat ; and silver for distinguished non - combat war service . The German Cross in Gold ranked higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight ' s Cross of the Iron Cross , while the German Cross in Silver ranked higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight ' s Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords . Divisions . The German Cross was issued in two divisions : gold and silver ( the color of the laurel wreath around the swastika ) , the former being an award for repeated acts of bravery or repeated outstanding achievements in combat , the latter being for multiple distinguished services in war efforts and was considered a continuation of the War Merit Cross with swords . The German Cross was unique in that the gold and silver divisions were considered as separate awards but should not be worn simultaneously . However , pictures of recipients wearing both grades exist ( see Odilo Globocnik and Dr . Paul Meixner ) . Appearance . The order consists of a star badge , containing a swastika ( in German , " Hakenkreuz " , " hooked cross " , which gives the award its name , the " German cross " ) . It had a diameter of 6 . 5 cm and was worn on the right - hand side of the tunic . If a recipient had been awarded both the silver and gold divisions , the gold division should be worn only . Only the gold division of the award was officially available in cloth form , which was made for easier wear on the combat uniform ; General Helmuth Weidling wore this variety during his defense of Berlin in April – May 1945 . Far more awards in gold ( combat ) were presented than in silver ( support ) . Specimen copies of a special grade , the German Cross in Gold with Diamonds , was manufactured in 1942 but this grade was never instituted or bestowed . 1957 version . In 1957 alternative ' de - nazified ' replacement versions of the German Cross were authorized for wear by the Federal Republic of Germany . This replaced the swastika with a representation of the Iron Cross for the gold division , and the War Merit Cross with Swords for the silver division . Wearing Nazi - era decorations was banned in Germany after the war , as was any display of the swastika . Veterans who had earned the German Cross during the Third Reich were therefore unable to wear it after this change . Recipients . Of both divisions . There are a total of 14 recorded instances of a German recipient receiving both the German Cross in Silver ( GCiS ) and Gold ( GCiG ) during the war . These are : Foreign recipients . The following 22 foreign soldiers from the allied armed forces were awarded the German Cross in Gold : Some 26 non - German volunteers of the Waffen - SS from Belgium , Denmark , Estonia , Finland , Hungary , Latvia , Netherlands and Norway received the German Cross in Gold . Nicknames . The German Cross was disparagingly referred to as " Hitler ' s fried egg " by Colonel Hans von Luck and other officers of his acquaintance , in response to its gaudiness . The extent to which this nickname was used is uncertain . It also been referred to in many history books as the " Nazi Party Badge for the near - sighted " .