The award was made to aircrew who had already been awarded the Iron Cross First Class but whose performance was not considered to merit the German Cross or Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Penghargaan ini diberikan untuk penerbang yang sudah menerima Salib Besi Kelas Satu tetapi prestasinya dianggap belum cukup untuk menerima Salib Jerman atau Salib Besi Kesatria.