Germany Reinstates Valor Decoration

[Pete]

Germany has revived a version of the Iron Cross for the first time since 1945. Its own military is in a precarious situation--because of the past, Germany's citizens and allies want its armed forces to be good, but not that good. Click on the link for more.

Germany honours four soldiers with new version of Iron Cross - Times Online

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[goo]

probably like the japs

[Ken The Kanuck]

Brave men deserve reconized, the common soldier serving his country is a honourable thing.

I believe that it was the SS and the Nazi party who soiled the reputation of the German soldier.

Now the only question is how long until the French need help?

KTK

[Youngblood]

Germany Reinstates Valor Decoration

Good for them ... it's about time (long past due, actually).

Thanks for the link.

[Dale in Louisiana]

It is fitting that honor and bravery in the face of the enemy be recognized.

Dale in Louisiana

[Mike Haas]

Good for them ... it's about time (long past due, actually).

Thanks for the link.

Youngblood - I'm with 100% on your comment. National Politics seldom have anything to do with with an individuals act of bravery or personal sacrifice.

Presenting one self to the arena of potential harm may, either through by being a "patriot' or a "Draftee" seldom had anything to do with an individual heroic act.

Usually it was because of circumstances due to the direct threat of harm to your buddys' and a sense of Duty to them.

Good for Germany in honoring herosim on the part of their Military.!

[conductor]

I find it interesting that this new madal is called "the Honour Cross" or "the Cross of Honour". The Nazis had a decoration called "the German Cross of Honour". It was a rather large 8-pointed star with a huge swastika in the center. It ranked between the Iron Cross 1st Class and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. It was worn on the left pocket of the uniform tunic, and is seen in pictures of many Knight's Cross winners.

[gunner]

Hi, i like the way you see these. Here in Germany that is a real problem. Every nation can have their medals of honor and so on but we have the problem that we lost the War. Our Grandfathers did some horrible and inhuman things. We paid for them since 1945 not only with money. We learned that it is not so good to be proud of our nation by saying this loud. My opinion is that it is enough. We should be proud of our soldiers like you are. They are doing a good job and we lost many fine young men by serving in a foreign country and helping to rebuild a democratic structure with a saver life for the citizens. Thanks man.

Best Regards

Gunner

[cmbtinfantry]

I agree with you Gunner. There is no reson to be ashamed of the service of the German Soldier. Throughout history they have proved to be very capable soldiers. I had the opportunity to interact with some of them, very nice fellows. The Iron Cross existed long before the Nazis, they just took it and added their little touch. People should not let that mar the need for a medal to honor the bravery of the German soldiers fighting alongside us. It has been my understanding and perhaps I am wrong, that after the war, vets could wear their medals earned, just had to make sure no emblem on them? If so why such a fuss now?

[Vern Humphrey]

Germans are entitled to have medals, just as any other nation.

We should remember, WWII ended in 1945. A man who was only 18 years old then would be 82 years old today. A man who was old enough to vote for Hitler would be dead by now. Let's not blame this generation for their grandparents' actions.