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Deutsches Kreuz in Silber

The German Cross (Deutschen Kreuz) is build up out of 5 separate parts and although the name suggests otherwise, it has the shape of a large 8-pointed breast star with in the center a large black swastika which is outlined in silver. The name of this award comes from this 21,5 mm big swastika. This swastika is placed upon a red-bordered silver disk and upon this red border is a silver laurel leaf wreath mounted. The silver wreath measures 39 mm across and is made out of single laurel leaves that are bounded together with a silk lint. At the bottom of the wreath is a square box with the year 1941 impressed into it. This date refers to the year of institution and from underneath this wreath emerge the eight star points. These points are chemically blackened and have the appearance of sunrays. Underneath these points is a 63 mm large silver backing plate placed which has the same shape as the award, only it’s slightly bigger so it forms the outer line of the award. At the reverse are 4 or 6 rivets visible and through the number of rivets you can recognize if the award was made in Germany or Austria. The German Crosses with 4 rivets were made in Germany and the pieces with 6 rivets in Austria. Further is there at the reverse a large width pin with a standard hook construction placed. If the award is marked with the LDO-number of the producer, then it is stamped in either the front or backside of the pin. To prevent damaging the award during combat, there was also a cloth version made. This cloth version has a metal wreath and the backing cloth colour is the same as the tunic colour of the corresponding Army branch. Fieldgrey is for the Army (Heer) and Waffen-SS, bleu-grey for the Air Force, (Luftwaffe) Marine bleu for the Navy (Kriegsmarine) and black for the Armored forces.

The German Cross in Silver (Deutsches Kreuz in Silber) was awarded for honourable military services in the execution of the war effort but where the Knight’s Cross wasn’t awarded for. The recipient did however already had to own the War Merit Cross 1st Class with swords (Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1 Klasse mit Schwertern) or the Iron Cross 1st Class. The exact number of times that the German Cross in Silver was bestowed is still unknown at this time.

The OBdW barred/blocked the awarding of the German Cross in Silver from May 3rd, 1944 until June 8th, 1944. On July 21st, 1944, a decree by Adolf Hitler was issued that recommendations to members of the Oberkommandos der Wehrmacht not were to be taken in consideration before it was known the person in question would end his service with the Oberkommando.

Alt, Erich* June 26th, 1887
† August 22nd, 1966

Grid List
NameDate of birthDate of deathAwards
Kaehler, Herbert (Infanterie-Regiment 48)  
Kahlke, Hermann (XVIII. Gebirgskorps)  
Kaiser, Franz (9. Flak-Div.)11-11-191212-12-2003more
Kaltenborn, Helmut  
Kaltenbrunner, Ernst04-10-190316-10-1946more
Kamptz, von, Jürgen  
Kanstein, Paul31-05-189907-09-1981
Kapherr, Freiherr von, Wolfgang Dr. jur.02-11-189807-08-1970
Karius, Wilhelm  
Kastner-Kirdorf, Gustav (General der Flieger)02-02-188104-05-1945more
Katz, Dr., Friedrich (Stabsarzt)00-00-190100-06-1994
Katz, Georg (Pionier-Abteilung 551)  
Katzschner, Helmut15-12-1911 more
Kaufmann, Dr., Leopold  
Keil, Friedrich  
Keitel, Bodewin Claus Eduard (General der Inf.)25-12-188829-07-1953more
Keller, Hermann (Grenadier-Regiment 70)  
Kempf, Siegfried15-03-189623-09-1964more
Kempski, von, Walter  
Keppler, Adolf  
Kern, Dr., Paul  
Kern, Emil  
Kienitz, Walter  
Kienitz, Werner03-06-188531-12-1959more
Killinger,  
Kingreen, Prof. Dr., Ottc  
Kinzel, Walter  
Kirchenpauer von Kirchdorff, Wilhelm  
Kirchner, Paul00-00-189227-04-1945
Kittel, Walther Prof.Dr. (Generalstabsarzt)20-03-188711-11-1971more
Klaffke, Heinz05-03-1906 
Klahn, Günther  
Klahn, Walter  
Klaus, Heinrich (Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 11)  
Klauser, Franz (211. ID)01-02-1898 more
Kleber, Franz  
Kleberger, Franz (Generalstab)19-06-188821-03-1971more
Kleemeier, Ludwig  
Kleikamp, Helmut28-04-190106-01-1985
Kleinschroth, Dipl.Ing., Heinrich29-01-189521-12-1965
Klinckowstroem, Graf von, Karl  
Klingler, Josef (Generalstabsveterinär)09-10-187826-12-1960more
Klink, Dr., Franz  
Kliszcz, Otto27-09-188618-09-1971
Kloess, Hans-Karl  
Klugar, Karl  
Knauff, Walter  
Knaus, Robert (Panzerjäger-Abteilung 92)  
Knieling, Lutz  
Kniffert, Alfred  
Knobelsdorff-Brenkenhoff, von, Friedrich05-12-189011-10-1950
Knoll, Willy  
Knorr, Hans  
Knorr, Reinhard  
Koch-Erpach, Rudolf09-04-188627-11-1971
Kockzius, Kurt  
Koelitz, Hans  
Koepsch, Dr., Egon  
Koerbler, Alois  
Koethe, Erich  
Kohl, Otto (WH-Generalleutnant)08-04-188602-03-1972
Kohlbecker, Paul  
Kohlhauer, Erich02-05-189114-12-1970
Kopkow, Horst29-11-191013-10-1996
Kopp, Ernst (KM)03-09-189416-08-1945
Korbion, Heinrich  
Korte, Hermann  
Kortzfleisch, von, Joachim03-01-189020-04-1945more
Kosel, Gerhard (Grenadier-Regiment 45)  
Kraemer, Dr. , Ernst  
Kraewel, von, Kurt  more
Krahmer, Otto  
Krasa, Karl05-10-1901 
Kratzenberg, Ernst  
Krause, Günther  
Krause, Johannes06-04-189315-02-1978
Krause, Kurt  
Krause, Otto Wilhelm August04-08-1889 
Kreutzer, Erich (Armee-Pionier-Führer)18-09-189610-01-1946more
Kreuzer, Dr., Georg (20. Pz-Gren.Div.)  
Kreuzig, Dr., Hans  
Krimmer, Leo  
Kroger, Karl  
Kroger, Otto  
Kroiß, Ferdinand  
Krug, Ludwig  
Krummel, Adolf14-12-189014-12-1960
Krumpelt, Dr., Hans  
Krux, Werner  
Krüger, Dr.med., Richard (Generalarzt d.R.)04-11-188104-08-1970
Krüger, Karl (Kriegsmarine)20-04-1906 
Krüger, Otto (Kapitänleutnant)01-07-1903 
Krüpl, Othmar18-08-189330-09-1992
Krämer, Ernst Friedrich23-01-190909-06-1996
Krömer, Josef  
Kunowski, von, Werner Eduard Ernst Knud12-02-190710-03-1947
Kuntze, Walter23-02-188301-04-1960more
Kuntzen, Gustav-Adolf23-12-1907 
Kuppe, Hermann  
Kurek, Viktor  
Kurze, Friedrich-Wilhelm  
Kuschow, Otto Friedrich Karl31-12-189020-04-1945more
Kutscher, Hans  
Kutzky, Reinhold11-10-189528-12-1971more
Kußmaul, Dr., Wilhelm  
Küfner, Konrad  
Kühl, Claus (Generalmajor)18-08-189825-02-1952more
Kühne, Fritz  
Kühne, Gerhard Fritz (Generalmajor)09-09-189922-05-1948more
Kühne, Otto  
Kühnold, Dr., Willi  
Kühny, Alfred  
Küllenberg, Heinrich  
Köberle, Josef  
Köhler, Dr. Erich (Generalstabsveterinär)26-07-188514-01-1955more
Köhler, Paul (Generalmajor)30-06-190600-00-2001more
König, Herbert  
König, Oskar  
Könighausen, Peter  
Körner, August  

Sources