WWII Medals

[RabidGibbon]

Couldn't the Knights cross also be awarded to a unit commander for exceptional performance of the unit as a whole? I was looking at a list of Knights cross' awarded at Stalingrad, and was surprised at how many were awarded to commanders at regimental level or higher.

[Kraxis]

Couldn't the Knights cross also be awarded to a unit commander for exceptional performance of the unit as a whole? I was looking at a list of Knights cross' awarded at Stalingrad, and was surprised at how many were awarded to commanders at regimental level or higher.

Yes... Most often German commanders would indeed get KCs (or higher) if their unit did well as a result of the commander's actions (specific redeployment or maneuvers). It was indeed a combined merit/valour medal, as it seems most german medals were (German Cross was only merit?).

One should remember that the Germans gave other smaller medals (badges really) for various cumulative and valourous actions (assault badges of various kinds for instance). Those were shown always (if the soldier wanted to) and a gold tank assault badge (10 tanks destroyed I believe) generated a whole lot of admiration. In all more than 40.000 individuals got a tank assault badge (some of them several times). That is statistics that are impressive. And such citations are in my mind the best there are. Clear and to the point.



I had long thought that the Bronze and Silver Stars had small gold stars as their indications of more awards. Well you learn something new every day.