Danzig Cross

The Danziger cross was donated by the short acting as Head of State of the Free City of Danzig Gauleiter Albert Forster on 31 August 1939 and for services to the construction of the NSDAP in the Gau Danzig and the National Socialist State of Danzig as well as for building the defense of Danzig before 31 August. awarded in 1939. Ceremonies took place mainly at the Gdansk Traditionstag Nazis, October 24, 1939. As a state award, the Danziger cross was equivalent to the awards of the other German states since 1 May 1941. The corresponding message ( published in the journal " uniforms market from 1 May 1941) of the Presidential Medal of the firm was this:

On multiple inquiries as to the carrying method of the cross of Danzig is in agreement with the High Command of the Wehrmacht following informed: The Cross of Gdansk is a national award of the Nazi state Gdansk, with under date of August 31, 1939, the day before the union the Greater German Reich, has been donated by the Head of State of the Free City of Danzig Gauleiter Forster. The cross of Danzig is thus a national award, which is equal to the awards of the other German states. The second class of the award is to be worn on the Order buckle in the number of medals and decorations of former German sovereigns.

Stylish look and manner

The award is a product manufactured from bronze gilded white enamelled Tatzenkreuz with double gold trim lines on the arms of the cross. On the decoration resting vertically two small crosses, which are surmounted by a crown. The arrangement corresponds to the figure in the coat of arms of the Free City of Danzig. The back of both classes is smooth and golden. The award was always in a red case, on its cover the coat of arms of the city of Danzig was embossed in gold. The draft Honour comes from the Empire stage manager Benno von Arent.

1st class

In the Danzig Cross 1st class is located at the back a massive lapel pin, which was suspended on a rolling hinge. Maintenance got the whole by a simple counter-hook at the bottom. The dimensions were approximately 61 mm x 42.5 mm. Was driven first class as a cross slot on the left of the Brusstasche Beliehenen under other awards of the empire, as it was a country award.

2nd class

The Danzig Cross 2nd class was kept slightly smaller than the 1st class and had a size of 47.5 mm x 35 mm. Was at the top of the crown, as with all tape orders usual, a transverse standing eyelet with ribbon ring. The second class was born after the date of award only as a band at the Interiemsspange. This was not the case of fixed events or acts of state, where the wearing of the great orders buckle was expressly permitted. The band itself was also here, in parallel to regulation of the first class, always worn behind the awards of the German Reich and as a national award.

Award numbers

The relevant literature on this topic is based on 88 ceremonies of the 1st class and 253 2nd class. However, this is incorrect because these figures are related only to the date of 11 December 1939 ( last day of the award period). In fact, the Danziger Cross has been awarded after that until the end of 1940 in some cases. However, no precise information to are not detectable.

Bearers

  • Hermann Göring ( first award )
  • Ludolf -Hermann von Alvensleben
  • Benno von Arent
  • Erich von dem Bach - Zalewski
  • Hans Frank
  • Joseph Goebbels
  • Max Halbe
  • Reinhard Heydrich
  • Erich Hilgenfeldt
  • Kurt Hoffmann ( Danzig) ( 1889-1945 ), Director General of the Port of Gdansk Society
  • Karl Sigismund Litzmann
  • Joachim von Ribbentrop
  • Franz Xaver Schwarz
  • Max Simon
  • Theodor Eicke
  • Fritz Todt
  • Heinrich Klose expression not assigned
  • Viktor Boettcher
  • Hans Fuchs

And most of the commanders of the SS Home Guard Gdansk

Others

It should be noted that the Danzig Cross in the German Reich was not known to little. Neither are hints in the numerous party pronouncements listed in other publications of the time on the creation of this award. Only the Marine Gazette from May 1, 1941 briefly describes their carry. For the " unpopularity " of this award is also responsible for ensuring that the part but influential personalities (eg, Goering or Heydrich ) themselves have not carried the cross.

Gdańsk Johann Pauls
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