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Deutsches Kreuz in Gold

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 golden laurel leaf wreath mounted. The golden 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 Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) was awarded for bravery and outstanding achievements in combat but where the Knight’s Cross wasn’t awarded for. The recipient did however already had to own the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1 Klasse) or Kriegsverdienstkreuz 1.Klasse with swords. The exact number of times that the German Cross in Gold was bestowed is still unknow at this time.

The OKW barred/stopped by decree the awarding of the Gernan Cross in Gold for "multiple remarkable services in troop leadership" from March 10th, 1945 on.

Bidermann, Gottlob-Herbert* August 28th, 1920
† September 1st, 2010

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Grid List
Zaage, Albert (M-126)* March 27th, 1900

Zabel, Walter ('U-9')* January 25th, 1921

Zabel, Wolf-Armin (Luftwaffe)* November 11th, 1904
† July 31st, 1944

Zach, Ludwig* August 8th, 1915
† January 20th, 1944

Zachariae-Lingenthal, Edel Heinrich* April 19th, 1916
† March 30th, 1998

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Zahn, Gerhard (Grenadier-Regiment 520)* December 18th, 1920
† July 8th, 1944
Plot: IV Grave: 2

Zahn, Lothar* September 20th, 1911
† February 10th, 1989

Zaloga, Fritz* January 1st, 1912
† June 23rd, 1944

Zander, Friedrich 'Fritz' (Jagdgeschwader 54)* June 18th, 1917
† December 26th, 1944

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Zander, Helmut (Panzergrenadier-Regiment 60)* December 9th, 1908
† October 11th, 1990

Zander, Kurt (Schnellboot)* August 23rd, 1919

Zandler, Johann* November 16th, 1921

Zapp, Werner* May 7th, 1919

Zastrow, von, Hans-Viktor* April 12th, 1907
† December 10th, 1942

Zatorski, von, Max (R-195)* March 5th, 1922
† January 3rd, 2004

Zauner, Franz* September 4th, 1916
† July 29th, 2008

Zboron, Leonhard* December 24th, 1913

Zebhauser, Paul* June 9th, 1913
† June 22nd, 1992

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Zecherle, Konrad* February 16th, 1919
† March 7th, 2009

Zeeb, Paul* January 7th, 1920

Zehe, Walter* January 16th, 1906
† February 16th, 1945
Plot: 1 Row: 8 Grave: 216 - 224

Zehender, August Friedrich (Waffen SS)* April 28th, 1903
† February 11th, 1945
Plot: 1 Grave: UNK

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Zehm, Hans (S-26)* August 1st, 1920

Zeidelhack, Bernhard (S-28)* January 14th, 1917

Zeidler, Markus* January 23rd, 1904
† July 12th, 1958

Zeiher, Robert* November 1st, 1919
† June 13th, 2000

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Zeissig, Richard Wilhelm* January 27th, 1897
† January 6th, 1942

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Zeissler, Heinz* December 15th, 1919

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Zeller, Conrad (Grenadier-Regiment 380)* September 9th, 1911
† January 24th, 1996

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Zeller, Herbert* March 2nd, 1915

Zellmann, Herbert (Stuka-Geschwader 1)* February 11th, 1916
† August 30th, 1943
Plot: 3 

Zellner, Johann "Hans"* June 19th, 1918
† February 27th, 1945

Zellner, Karl* September 28th, 1918
† September 13th, 1943

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Zellner, Paul* May 5th, 1916

Zellot, Walter* October 6th, 1920
† September 10th, 1942

Zelsacher, Adolf* May 30th, 1921
† May 4th, 1943

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Zeltner, Richard (Lehr-Geschwader 2)* February 27th, 1915
† January 26th, 1945
Grave: UNK

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Zemanek, Walter* May 25th, 1918
† June 22nd, 2021

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Zembsch, Heinz* March 21st, 1916
† February 9th, 1943

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Zenner, Walter (U-201)* March 10th, 1920

Zepner, Alois* August 16th, 1914
† November 14th, 1944

Zettler, Rudolf* May 19th, 1916
† June 27th, 1944

Zetzsche, Hans Jürgen (U-591)* October 5th, 1915
† October 21st, 1991

Zewe, Wilhelm* March 29th, 1920
† May 31st, 1944

Zick, Alois* December 24th, 1918
† August 31st, 1943

Zick, Siegfried* December 25th, 1916

Zieb, Paul-Willy (Konteradmiral Ing.)* June 3rd, 1892
† August 9th, 1972

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Ziedainis, Miervaldis* January 15th, 1915
† July 16th, 1946

Ziegelmeier, Josef (Schnellboot "S 77")* December 11th, 1918
† July 25th, 1943
Plot: BH Row: 12 Grave: 277

Ziegler, Gerhard-Georg (Grenadier-Regiment 353)* May 2nd, 1896
† July 13th, 1982

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Ziegler, Heinz* May 19th, 1894
† August 21st, 1972

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Ziegler, Herbert (Grenadier-Regiment 361)* October 8th, 1904
† June 25th, 1944
Plot: 55 Grave: 97

Ziegler, Joachim (Waffen SS)* October 19th, 1904
† May 2nd, 1945

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Ziegler, Karl* November 1st, 1905
† January 12th, 1992

Zieher, Erich* April 13th, 1913

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Ziehr, Leonhard* March 8th, 1914
† April 29th, 1989

Zielke, Heinrich* May 22nd, 1916
† March 29th, 1944

Ziemer, Ernst* December 9th, 1911
† August 6th, 1986

Zierenberg, Bernhard* October 20th, 1920
† August 9th, 1943

Ziervogel, Heinrich* March 14th, 1905
† May 21st, 1942
Plot: 10 Row: 53 Grave: 6281

Zihmann, Dietrich* November 13th, 1920

Zillich, Karl* June 22nd, 1921
† April 14th, 1944

Zillmann, Erich (Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 245)* January 10th, 1912
† August 9th, 1986

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Zillmer, Gerhard (Infanterie-Regiment 510)* July 10th, 1905
† September 8th, 1942
Grave: UNK

Zimmer, Karl (Grenadier-Regiment 105)* April 9th, 1913
† April 21st, 2002

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Zimmer, Richard* June 21st, 1893
† June 20th, 1971

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Zimmermann, Alfred (Waffen SS)* November 6th, 1919

Zimmermann, Armin ("R 45")* December 23rd, 1917
† November 30th, 1976

Zimmermann, Bodo* November 26th, 1886
† April 16th, 1963

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Zimmermann, Ernst (Grenadier-Regiment 105)* March 18th, 1915
† July 7th, 1943

Zimmermann, Friedrich 'Fritz' (U-107)* November 20th, 1920
† August 18th, 1944
Grave: U-107

Zimmermann, Fritz (Füsilier-Regiment 22)* February 19th, 1916
† June 7th, 1944
Plot: T Grave: 16

Zimmermann, Herbert (Waffen-SS "Das Reich")* May 31st, 1916
† April 8th, 1945
Grave: 209

Zimmermann, Hermann (Panzer-Brigade 102)* November 18th, 1897
† January 11th, 1978

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Zimmermann, Jakob (Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10)* January 9th, 1912
† October 8th, 1943
Grave: UNK

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Zimmermann, Julius (Jäger-Reg. "Hermann Göring")* August 15th, 1906
† October 23rd, 1944
Plot: 25 Row: 07 Grave: 456

Zimmermann, Lothar Richard, Dr. (Inf.Rgt.420)* January 20th, 1896
† July 1946

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Zimmermann, Manfred (Grenadier-Reg. 199 "List")* October 25th, 1918
† July 4th, 1944

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Zimmermann, Oskar (Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet")* December 6th, 1917
† June 12th, 1976

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Zimmermann, Rolf (Sturmgeschütz-Brigade 909)* September 8th, 1924
† May 8th, 1945
Grave: UNK

Zimmermann, Rudolf (Aufklärungs-Abteilung 333)* April 2nd, 1917
† May 14th, 1943
Plot: 4 Row: 3 Grave: 228

Zimmermann, Rudolf (Schützen-Regiment 73)* December 25th, 1916
† January 25th, 1996

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Zimmermann, Werner* July 19th, 1913

Zingelmann, Kurt (Flak-Regiment 43)* January 20th, 1919
† August 21st, 2007

Zink, Dieter (JG 3)* August 11th, 1922
† November 19th, 2000

Zink, Fülbert (JG 26)* October 12th, 1914
† March 14th, 1943
Grave: UNK

Zinkhan, Fritz (Panzerjäger-Abteilung 8)* March 23rd, 1915
† March 19th, 1944
Plot: 15 Row: 22 Grave: 961

Zinkhan, Georg (Inf.Rgt.15)* June 9th, 1912
† September 18th, 1942

Zinn, Theodor Werner (KG 26)* August 26th, 1917
† September 14th, 1942

Zinner, Karl (KG 27)* September 14th, 1917
† June 20th, 1943

Zinnert, Helmut (FJR)* January 11th, 1920
† March 4th, 1984

Zinnkann, Wilhelm 'Willi' (Flak-Rgt. 25)* October 27th, 1915
† October 23rd, 1997

Zintl, Franz-Xaver* June 14th, 1914
† March 23rd, 1993

Zipfel, Willibald* October 7th, 1919
† February 2nd, 1964

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Zirpel, Otto Kurt (Grenadier-Regiment 547)* June 25th, 1904
† May 18th, 1944
Grave: UNK

Zirpel, Siegfried (KG 100)* July 10th, 1921
† December 30th, 1942

Zirus, Georg (U-453)* January 16th, 1920

Zittwitz, von, Wilhelm* August 22nd, 1917

Zitzewitz, von, Wilhelm* February 8th, 1917

Zobel, Heinz* June 20th, 1914

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Zoll, Erhard* August 1st, 1914
† July 17th, 2004

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Zollenkopf, Helmuth* May 19th, 1896

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Zollenkopf, Martin* October 28th, 1921
† March 6th, 1945
Plot: Q Row: 17 Grave: 503

Zollhöfer, Emil* September 20th, 1911
† August 20th, 1984

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Zorell, Alois* June 21st, 1914
† December 11th, 2003

Zorn, Hans* October 27th, 1891
† August 2nd, 1943

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Zorn, Heinrich (Aufklärunsgruppe 22)* May 8th, 1914
† February 28th, 1943
Grave: UNK

Zorner, Paul Anton Guido* March 31st, 1920
† January 27th, 2014

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Zoufahl, Franz-Josef (Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders")* October 28th, 1918
† July 24th, 1944
Grave: UNK

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Zozmann, Ernst* February 11th, 1914
† August 19th, 2006

Zschiegner, Herbert* February 21st, 1921
† September 14th, 1944

Zschimmer, Kurt* November 20th, 1920

Zschoche, Helmut (Grenadier-Regiment 245)* August 6th, 1911
† February 1945
Grave: UNK

Zugehör, Günter* December 18th, 1909
† July 1st, 1966

Zukertort, Johannes* April 29th, 1886
† March 7th, 1969

Zundel, Fritz* September 14th, 1913

Zunke, Willy* October 10th, 1887
† November 24th, 1966

Zunker, Dr., Ernst (KM)* September 9th, 1898
† December 18th, 1980

Zurmühlen, Bernhard (U-600)* February 23rd, 1909
† November 25th, 1943

Zwanziger, Theodor* September 21st, 1918

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Zweig, Karl-Heinz ('M-3615')* January 17th, 1913

Zweigart, Eugen-Ludwig* March 5th, 1914
† June 8th, 1944

Zweng, Wilhelm "Willi"* November 26th, 1915
† August 27th, 1944

Zwernemann, Josef "Jupp"* March 26th, 1916
† April 8th, 1944

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Zwesken, Rudolf "Rudi" "Bulle"* August 13th, 1919
† February 22nd, 1946

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Zwick, Bruno* October 1st, 1898

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Zwickenpflug, Johann* September 29th, 1914
† June 7th, 1969

Zwipf, Heinrich* January 13th, 1914
† April 7th, 1944

Zühlke, Harry† January 1st, 1967

Zymalkowski, Felix, Prof. Dr. (Schnellboot)* August 13th, 1913
† August 17th, 2004

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Zynda, Günther* July 19th, 1915

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Zywietz, Helmut* October 28th, 1912

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Zäh, Friedrich* March 3rd, 1917
† January 20th, 1945

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Zähr, Erich* February 19th, 1911
† July 15th, 1985

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Zölk, Rudolf (U-123)* August 8th, 1914

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Zöllner, Heinz (KG 53 "Legion Condor")* November 7th, 1919
† November 5th, 1944
Grave: UNK

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Zörn, Ernst Adolf Friedrich (Inf.Reg.90)* October 30th, 1907
† August 28th, 1943
Grave: unk

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Sources