TheGrand Cross of the Iron Cross (German:Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) was a decoration intended for victorious generals of thePrussian Army and itsallies. It was the second highest class of theIron Cross, following theStar of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, which was awarded only twice. Along with the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, the Grand Cross was founded on 10 March 1813, during theNapoleonic Wars. It was renewed in 1870 for theFranco-Prussian War and again in 1914 forWorld War I. In 1939, whenAdolf Hitler renewed the Iron Cross as a German (rather than strictly Prussian) decoration, he also renewed the Grand Cross.
The Grand Cross of the Iron Cross was twice the size of the Iron Cross and was worn with a ribbon around the neck. The laterKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross, instituted in 1939, was also worn from the neck; it was smaller than the Grand Cross but larger than the Iron Cross.
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Five men received the 1813 Grand Cross of the Iron Cross for actions during the Napoleonic Wars:
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The Iron Cross was renewed on 19 July 1870, for theFranco-Prussian War. Nine men received the 1870 Grand Cross of the Iron Cross for service during that war. Seven Grand Crosses were awarded on 22 March 1871, to:
Kaiser Wilhelm I received the Grand Cross on 16 June 1871, andFriedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, received it on 4 December 1871. The Kaiser was supreme commander of the Prussian Army, and Moltke was Chief of the General Staff. The others were senior combat commanders of the Prussian Army (Crown Prince Albert initially commanded the Saxon Army as a corps under a Prussian field army, but later took command of a combined Prussian/Saxon field army).
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The Iron Cross was renewed again on 5 August 1914. There were five recipients of the 1914 Grand Cross in theFirst World War:
Adolf Hitler reinstituted the Iron Cross as aGerman decoration in September 1939, with the Grand Cross again the highest grade (above the various classes of theKnight's Cross).
ReichsmarschallHermann Göring became the only recipient of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross duringWorld War II when it was awarded to him at theField Marshal Ceremony on 19 July 1940 in his role as the Supreme Commander of theLuftwaffe for leading them to victory in theFrench campaign.[1]
A World War II version of the higherStar of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross was devised, but never formally instituted or awarded. Following the Allied victory in May 1945, theUnited States Army seized the only known prototype, which is now a part of the collection of theMuseum of the United States Military Academy (USMA) inWest Point, New York.[2]
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