WW2 Did Germany have a medal for Valor?

I wasn't able to find any detail if Germany had a medal for valor.Awards for merit of service but none for valor.

2011-07-28T20:56:00Z

The" blue max" was discontinued after WW1.Theo StarCam was the last recipient.

Sam N2011-07-28T21:43:09Z

Favorite Answer

The medal used to honor a German soldier for valor and bravery in the field was the Iron Cross. Typically it was a black cross with a silver outline. Inside the cross was a swastika and the year it was issued, and came in various levels...

Iron Cross First Class
Iron Cross Second Class
Knight's Cross
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds
Knight's Cross with Gold Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds

Additional facts on German medals...

Today, recipients of the WW2 Iron Cross may wear it in Germany, provided the Swastika and any Nazi Party identifiers are removed. The German military also uses the Iron Cross as its official emblem, though altered to be a silver cross with a blue and white border.

Also, while the Pour le Merite was not issued by the Wiemar Republic or by the Nazis, the medal did not disappear. Erwin Rommel, who won the Pour le Merite for actions in the Battle of Caparetto in WWI would continue to wear the decoration throughout his career, and many photographs of him in WW2 show that he had the Pour le Merite in front of the Knight's Cross that he won in 1943.

And the Pour le Merite is also divided into military and civil distinctions. Both were ended when the German Empire collapsed in 1918, however the civilian Pour le Merite was reinstated in 1952.

xscout90942011-07-29T03:40:56Z

The Iron Cross. It was awarded for bravery as well as for other reasons, but there were several levels. I believe the highest that was awarded strictly for valor was the Knights' Cross.

ADD: The Blue Max was replaced by the Iron Cross in WWII. Hitler didn't want to use it because it originated as a Prussian Award and was restricted to officers.

TuggerJ2011-07-29T03:35:12Z

Yes the Pour le Merite, nicknamed the Blue Max

Brennan S2011-07-29T04:17:36Z

I think it was the Iron Cross and the Knights cross. they also added decorations to the crosses for extra deeds performed