- Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
- Institution: 14 April 1939
- Country: Germany
The German Spanish Cross (Spanienkreuz) was a military decoration awarded by Nazi Germany to members of the German Condor Legion who had served in the Spanish Civil War, which took place from 1936 to 1939. The Condor Legion was a unit of the German Luftwaffe (air force) that provided support to Francisco Franco’s Nationalist forces during the conflict.
The German Spanish Cross came in two classes:
Spanish Cross in Bronze (Spanienkreuz in Bronze): This version of the award was given for service in Spain without combat action. It featured a Maltese cross with a central swastika and a laurel wreath. The cross had a bronze finish.
Spanish Cross in Silver with Swords (Spanienkreuz in Silber mit Schwertern): This higher-class version was awarded for actual combat action in Spain. It featured the same design as the bronze cross but had a silver finish, and crossed swords were added behind the swastika to denote combat service.
The Spanish Cross Design
The Spanish Cross had a Maltese cross shape, which is a type of cross characterized by arms of equal length that widen as they extend outward from the center. This shape is often associated with military medals.
In the center of the cross, there was a black swastika, which was a prominent symbol of the Nazi regime.
Surrounding the central swastika, there was a laurel wreath. Laurel wreaths are traditional symbols of victory and honor, and they were often used in military decorations to signify achievement.
In the Spanish Cross in Silver with Swords, two crossed swords were positioned behind the swastika. These crossed swords indicated that the recipient had been awarded the medal for combat service in Spain.
The cross itself had a silver finish, which distinguished it from the lower-ranking Spanish Cross in Bronze, which had a bronze finish.
