The Spanish Cross () was an award of Nazi Germany given to German troops who participated in the

Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War () was a military conflict fought from 1936 to 1939 between the Republican faction (Spanish Civil War), Republicans and the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalists. Republicans were loyal to the Left-wing p ...

, fighting for nationalist general, later Spanish

dictator A dictator is a political leader who possesses absolute Power (social and political), power. A dictatorship is a state ruled by one dictator or by a polity. The word originated as the title of a Roman dictator elected by the Roman Senate to r ...

Francisco Franco Francisco Franco Bahamonde (born Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco Bahamonde; 4 December 1892 – 20 November 1975) was a Spanish general and dictator who led the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalist forces i ...

.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 lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

sent the

Condor Legion The Condor Legion () was a unit of military personnel from the air force and army of Nazi Germany’s Wehrmacht which served with the Nationalist faction during the Spanish Civil War. The legion developed methods of strategic bombing that were ...

, 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 army aviati ...

and

army An army, ground force or land force is an armed force that fights primarily on land. In the broadest sense, it is the land-based military branch, service branch or armed service of a nation or country. It may also include aviation assets by ...

, 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 part of the unified (Federal Defense), the German Armed Forces. The German Navy was originally known as the ''Bundesmarine'' (Federal Navy) from 1956 to 1995, when ''Deutsche Marine'' (German Navy) became the official ...

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 (), officially known as the Decoration in Memory of 9 November 1923 (), was one of the most prestigious decorations in the Nazi Party (NSDAP). During March 1934, Hitler authorized the Blood Order to commemorate the 9 November 1 ...

. 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 lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen constituent states have a total population of over 84 ...

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 Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

without combat experience. 7,869 bronze crosses were awarded.

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 () 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 The Maltese cross is a cross symbol, consisting of four " V" or arrowhead shaped concave quadrilaterals converging at a central vertex at right angles, two tips pointing outward symmetrically. It is a heraldic cross variant which develope ...

with, in its centre, a

swastika The swastika (卐 or 卍, ) is a symbol used in various Eurasian religions and cultures, as well as a few Indigenous peoples of Africa, African and Indigenous peoples of the Americas, American cultures. In the Western world, it is widely rec ...

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

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

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).

Recipients

* Walter Adolph *

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 * Gerhard Bigalk * Hermann Boehm (admiral) * Kurt Böhmer * Hubertus von Bonin * Eberhard Bopst * Leopold Bürkner *

Rolf Carls Rolf Hans Wilhelm Karl Carls (29 May 1885 – 24 April 1945) was a high-ranking German admiral and deputy to Kriegsmarine commander-in-chief Erich Raeder during much of World War II. Carls served as ''Flottenchef'' (Fleet commander (Kriegsmarine ...

* Otto Ciliax * Hans Degen * Ulrich Diesing * Oskar Dirlewanger * Paul Drekmann * Walter Ehle * Hans Ehlers * Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber * Engelbert Endrass * Wolfgang Ewald * Klaus Ewerth * Fritz Frauenheim * Hans-Georg von Friedeburg * Hans von Funck * Adolf Galland* * Walter Grabmann * Karl-Heinz Greisert *

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 * Martin Harlinghausen* * Werner Hartenstein * Hans Heidtmann * Werner Henke * Hajo Herrmann * Johannes Hintz * Erich Hippke * Hermann Hogeback * Herbert Ihlefeld * Rolf Johannesson * Bernhard Jope * Rolf Kaldrack * Bernd Klug * Karl-Heinz Krahl * Fritz-Julius Lemp *

Wolfgang Lippert (pilot) Wolfgang Lippert (14 September 1914 – 3 December 1941) was a World War II Luftwaffe Flying ace. Lippert was credited with 30 victories, five of which were scored in the Spanish Civil War. Early of life and career Lippert was born on 14 Septem ...

* Fritz Losigkeit *

Walther Lucht __NOTOC__ Walther 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* * August Maus * 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 ...

Karl-Friedrich Merten Karl-Friedrich Merten (15 August 1905 – 2 May 1993) commanded the U-boat in Nazi Germany's ''Kriegsmarine'' during World War II. He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. Merten was credited with the sinking of 2 ...

Walter Model Otto Moritz Walter Model (; 24 January 1891 – 21 April 1945) was a German 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 defensive warfare. H ...

* Johann Mohr * Werner Mölders* * Heinz Neukirchen * Eduard Neumann (fighter pilot) * Walter Oesau* * Jürgen Oesten * Adolf Piening * Rolf Pingel * Hermann Plocher * Günther Radusch * Hermann Rasch * Hansjürgen Reinicke * Rudolf Resch * Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen* * Gustav Rödel * Helmut Rosenbaum * Jürgen von Rosenstiel * Wolfgang Schellmann* * Joachim Schlichting* * Johann Schmid * Rudolf Schmidt (Major) * Herbert Schob * Georg-Wilhelm Schulz * Hans Seidemann *

Reinhard Seiler Reinhard Seiler (30 August 1909 – 6 October 1989) was a Nazi German Luftwaffe Major (Germany), Major and Flying ace, ace of the Spanish Civil War and World War II, commander of Jagdgeschwader 104 and a winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron C ...

* * Karl Smidt *

Hugo Sperrle Hugo Wilhelm Sperrle (7 February 1885 – 2 April 1953) was a Nazi Germany, German military aviator in World War I and a ''Generalfeldmarschall'' (Field marshal, Field Marshal) in the ''Luftwaffe'' during World War II. Sperrle joined the German ...

* * Albert Stecken * Alois Stoeckl * Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma* * Horst Tietzen * Werner Töniges * Hannes Trautloft *

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 * Kurt Weyher *

Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke Wolf-Dietrich Wilcke (11 March 1913 – 23 March 1944) was a German Luftwaffe pilot during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 162 enemy aircraft shot down in 732 combat missions. He claimed the majority of his victories over the ...

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

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * * * {{List of military decorations of the Third Reich , state=collapsed 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