"The most famous and recognizable German award", "The first European award, which was awarded regardless of rank and class," "It was established by the leaders of three different states" - all of the above is said about the Iron Cross.
The Iron Cross was established on March 10, 1813, by the Prussian King Frederick William III. The development of the appearance of the cross was entrusted to the Prussian architect and artist Karl Friedrich Schinkel. For the basis of the draft order Shinkel took an equilateral Teutonic cross, known since the XIV century. The appearance of the Iron Cross in the Prussian reward system was dictated by the need to rally the army and the people in the struggle for the liberation of the Fatherland from the Napoleonic army. After the end of the Napoleonic wars, this award was not given. It was revived several times in connection with military actions: in 1870 (on the occasion of the Franco-Prussian War), in 1914 (at the beginning of the First World War) and in 1939 (in connection with the outbreak of World War II).
The Order had four varieties: the Iron Cross of the 2nd class, the Iron Cross of the 1st class, the Great Iron Cross and the Great Star of the Iron Cross. The last in history was given only twice. In 1815 it was received by Field Marshal General Gebhard von Blyuher, and in 1918 it was received by Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg.
The Iron Cross 1st class of the First World War is represented in the exposition of the Museum of Local Lore. This order was established by Emperor Wilhelm II on the fifth day of the war. It is an equilateral cross of iron, the front part of which is covered with black enamel, with a silver edging. On the upper beam there is a stylized Prussian crown, in the center there is the monogram of Emperor Wilhelm II, on the lower ray there is date "1914".
During the years of the First World War the Iron Cross became a truly mass award. Thus, more than 5 million people were awarded the Order of the 2nd class, and about 218,000 soldiers and officers were awarded the Order of the 1st class. In the beginning of 1915, changes were made to the statute of the award, after which the Iron Cross could be obtained not only by subjects of the German Empire, but also by citizens of the allied countries. During the war, the Order of the 2nd class was awarded to women for the first time. True, there were only four such cases. With the end of hostilities on the fronts of the First World War in November 1918, the practice of rewarding the Iron Cross also ceased.