The German WW1 1914 Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross from Reddick Militaria is an Iron Cross award commonly known as the "Breast Star". The Grand Cross - when Hitler originally re-instituted it - was supposed to have been outlined in gold, but this was changed to silver before Göring was awarded his. The even higher decoration, the Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, was also re-instituted by Hitler, but never bestowed under Nazi authority and has not been awarded since. A desirable and extremely scarce Grand Cross recovered from the famed Zimmermann Factory and subsequently cleaned; the only Zimmermann GC known to exist, this cross has a strong silver frame, intact iron core, measuring 62.99mm (w), 70.90 mm (h) and weighing 63.10 grams with loop; loop marked 800 and 20, remains very fine. Göring - who loved amassing medals - felt that the Grand Cross he received from Hitler was not really grand enough, so he had copies made - one with platinum edges - which he wore. Along with the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, the Grand Cross was founded on March 10, 1813, during the Napoleonic Wars. It was the highest (normally awarded) class of the Iron Cross, which was founded in 1813, and renewed in 1870 for the Franco-Prussian War and again in 1914 for World War I. Awarded to the most successful General officer at the conclusion of a war. That medal is called the Blücherstern (Blücher's Star). The 1939 Grand Cross was to be conferred upon senior field commanders whose leadership dramatically influenced the outcome of a major battle or campaign. The Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (or Stern zum Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes in German) was a senior decoration to the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross and the highest military decoration of the Kingdom of Prussia and the German Empire. Göring - who loved amas… Hitler's First Hundred Days: When Germans Embraced the Third Reich, D-DAY Through German Eyes – The Hidden Story of June 6th 1944, Battle Over Bavaria: The B-26 Marauder Versus German Jets, Iron Kingdom: The Rise and Downfall of Prussia, 1600–1947, Patton, Montgomery, Rommel: Masters of War, Germany: A Nation in Its Time: Before, During, and After Nationalism, Road to Königgrätz: Helmuth von Moltke and the Austro-Prussian War. The award is constructed a die struck three-piece construction that has been soldered together. Five men received the 1813 Grand Cross of the Iron Cross for actions during the Napoleonic Wars: The Iron Cross was renewed on July 19, 1870, for the Franco-Prussian War. The Iron Cross was originally founded in 1813, and was considered Germany’s highest military decoration. The award is commonly known as “Blücher’s Star” (Blücherstern) after its first recipient. Iron Cross, grand cross: Part of: Iron Cross: Category combines topics: award winner, Grand Cross of the Iron Cross: Category contains: human: Location: Kingdom of Prussia, Nazi Germany: Inception: 10 March 1813; Next higher rank: Hindenburg Star; Next lower rank: Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross… Paul von Hindenburg received the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (9 December 1916) to which the Golden Star added on 25 March 1918 (Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross). The ribbonfor the 1813, 1870 and 1914 Iron Cross (2nd Class) was black with two thin white bands, the colors of Prussia. Category. Shortly before his suicide, Hitler deprived Göring of the Grand Cross because he felt betrayed by him. It was considered a senior decoration to the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross. There were five recipients of the 1914 Grand Cross in the First World War: Adolf Hitler reinstituted the Iron Cross as a German decoration in September 1939, with the Grand Cross again as the highest grade (above the various classes of the Knight's Cross). Along with the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class, the Grand Cross was founded on March 10, 1813, during the Napoleonic Wars. The first Star of the Grand Cross was presented to Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, 1815 version. It was the highest class of the Iron Cross. Since Germany was defeated in 1945, the award was never bestowed on the intended recipient. It was the second highest class of the Iron Cross, following the Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross which was given only twice. On September 1st, 1939, Adolf Hitler renewed the Order of the Iron Cross and instituted the decoration in four grades, II Class Iron Cross, I Class Iron Cross, Knight’s Cross and Grand Cross. Grand Cross of the Iron Cross 1939. Surely it is not an awarded piece, but it is a beautiful old jewelers production. Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 replica.The Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to the most outstanding of generals who performed feats of leadership to the extreme benefit of the Prussian and later German state. It was awarded only twice, over a century apart, to Field Marshal Gebhard von Blücher in 1813 and to Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg in 1918. Seven Grand Crosses were awarded on March 22, 1871, to: Kaiser Wilhelm I received the Grand Cross on June 16, 1871, and Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, received it on December 4, 1871. A special class, the Grand Cross on a radiant star, was created especially for Field Marshal G.L. Blücher after the Battle of Waterloo (1815). Hermann Göring became the only recipient of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II when it was awarded to him on July 19, 1940. The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 was the highest award made by Nazi Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or outstanding military leadership during World War II. At a ceremony in Dearborn, Michigan, Henry Ford is presented with the Grand Cross of the Supreme Order of the German Eagle on his 75th birthday. $25.00. Articles with unsourced statements from November 2014, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Military awards and decorations of Prussia, Military awards and decorations of Germany (Wehrmacht), Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, Crown Prince Charles John of Sweden (Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte), Bogislav Friedrich Emanuel von Tauentzien, Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia, Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Grand_Cross_of_the_Iron_Cross?oldid=4520123.