German Armed Forces awarded 14 American soldiers

[Dan D]

"German-US military history was made earlier this year [2010] when the German Armed Forces awarded 14 American soldiers one of the German military's highest honors for valor, the Gold Cross of Honor of the German Armed Forces, for risking their lives in the rescue of wounded German soldiers in northern Afghanistan. It was the first time non-Germans had ever received the award.
The crew members of a helicopter MedEvac unit came to the aid of Bundeswehr soldiers who had been ambushed by more than 200 Taliban fighters while on patrol north of Kunduz on April 2. With US Apache helicopters providing defense, US Black Hawk helicopters made multiple trips to evacuate 11 critically wounded German soldiers from the battle zone. Three of the German soldiers later died of their injuries."

http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/__pr/P__Wash/2010/12/10__Ehrenkreuz__PR.html

[Gammelpreusse]

"German-US military history was made earlier this year [2010] when the German Armed Forces awarded 14 American soldiers one of the German military's highest honors for valor, the Gold Cross of Honor of the German Armed Forces, for risking their lives in the rescue of wounded German soldiers in northern Afghanistan. It was the first time non-Germans had ever received the award.
The crew members of a helicopter MedEvac unit came to the aid of Bundeswehr soldiers who had been ambushed by more than 200 Taliban fighters while on patrol north of Kunduz on April 2. With US Apache helicopters providing defense, US Black Hawk helicopters made multiple trips to evacuate 11 critically wounded German soldiers from the battle zone. Three of the German soldiers later died of their injuries."

http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/__pr/P__Wash/2010/12/10__Ehrenkreuz__PR.html

not a new story, really

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nAWT73a600

[August]

I think you Germans should quit pussy footing around and bring back the Iron Cross.

[Gammelpreusse]

I think you Germans should quit pussy footing around and bring back the Iron Cross.

That's reserved for times when Germany itself is at stake. "Expeditionary" missions never saw the iron cross. Those were only awarded in 1813-14, 1870-71, 1914-18 and 1939-45, the last ones reissued in the 50ies without a swastika. Colonial endeavors and out of country missions saw the Prussian equivalents of the modern "Ehrenkreuz" (cross of honor)

http://www.muenzauktion.com/krogoll/pic/thumb/preussen_mvk_1890.jpg (http://www.muenzauktion.com/krogoll/pic/thumb/preussen_mvk_1890.jpg)

[TLAM Strike]

For a second I thought we gave the German army 14 American troops because we wanted to thank them for the help or something... :haha:

[Dan D]

I think you Germans should quit pussy footing around and bring back the Iron Cross.

We can't do that. "Outlaws" and motor biker dudes like Hells Angels and also Lemmy from Mötorhead nowadays wear Iron crosses as accessory.

"A "f..k the world" tatoo on his arm- the iron cross is his lucky charm".

You know, of course, why Lemmy from Mötorhead wears an iron cross with the year dates "1914-1916" engraved?

Lemmy: " 'til 1916 the Germans thought they could win the war".

[The Third Man]

And....Barack Obama was given a Nobel Prize for nothing.

Can you see the worth?

[Oberon]

And....Barack Obama was given a Nobel Prize for nothing.

Can you see the worth?

Aaah, here goes General Topics down the toilet again.

[Task Force]

Aaah, here goes General Topics down the toilet again.

Did It ever get pulled out?

[gimpy117]

congrats to those guys. Thats also an award on the ribbon bar thats gonna look unique

[DarkFish]

I think you Germans should quit pussy footing around and bring back the Iron Cross.lol:haha:

For a second I thought we gave the German army 14 American troops because we wanted to thank them for the help or something... :haha:even loller:har:

[Kongo Otto]

And....Barack Obama was given a Nobel Prize for nothing.

Can you see the worth?


Ok then tell us about the worth of Your Military Decorations.

[breadcatcher101]

For a second I thought we gave the German army 14 American troops because we wanted to thank them for the help or something... :haha:

That's what I thought as well.

Small wonder we need people in the military, we give them away!

[TLAM Strike]

Did It ever get pulled out?

No it never pulls out, that's why it keeps spawning threads like this... :O:

[August]

congrats to those guys. Thats also an award on the ribbon bar thats gonna look unique

If they can find it amongst all the fruit salad they wear these days.

[krashkart]

When was the last time something like this happened? *scratches head*

Pretty cool by my shortsighted standards.



@TTM - Bush was my punching bag for awhile. Didn't make me any more popular, though. :lol:

[Tessa]

congrats to those guys. Thats also an award on the ribbon bar thats gonna look unique

Sad thing is with the order of precedence it will be the last ribbon his rack, generally occupied by the lowest medal/award a soldier receives.

I think you Germans should quit pussy footing around and bring back the Iron Cross.

In the whole scheme of Imperial Germany awards/orders, the Iron Cross is a pretty low award. Looking at the period from 1600-1918 there are many orders/medals that far outranked the Iron Cross; like the Order of the Black Eagle, Prussian Order of the Red Eagle, Order of the Bear, Order of St. Henry the Lion or even a Hanseaten Cross, etc.. The iron cross has become more of an enigma than a true medal of extraordinary valor. Arguably the most respected and reverred medal Germany has ever awarded is the Pour Le Merite, it ranked about all the RK's and other high orders - much like the Victoria Cross today.

There are several orders of knighthood/aristocracy (Order of the Garter, Order of the Bath) that are very high ranking with some only being given to heads of state, but a Private that went through hell and back and was awarded the Victoria Cross will always outrank Orders that can be given only to kings/queens. Like the Pour Le Merite, Medal of Honor or Victoria cross the award for valor has always outranked any political award/order created no matter how prestigious it may be. Personally I love one of the laurels that comes with the MOH, that anyone wearing the MOH must be saluted first, regardless of rank. Very cool to that a 4 star general is required to salute first a MOH reciepient even he's just an E-1 private.

[Safe-Keeper]

For a second I thought we gave the German army 14 American troops because we wanted to thank them for the help or something... :haha:
Me too:O:.

"For your valiant efforts in Iraq we give you 14 female soldiers, 20 oxen, a fruit basket and an Abrams Tank."

[Oberon]

Me too:O:.

"For your valiant efforts in Iraq we give you 14 female soldiers, 20 oxen, a fruit basket and an Abrams Tank."


:har::har::har::har::har: :yeah:

[The Third Man]

Aaah, here goes General Topics down the toilet again.

Did I mistate the truth Oberon?




And....Barack Obama was given a Nobel Prize for nothing.

Can you see the worth?

[Oberon]

Did I mistate the truth Oberon?

You stated a truth, and then an opinion, in a subject which had nothing to do with either.

[Takeda Shingen]

You stated a truth, and then an opinion, in a subject which had nothing to do with either.

Yes. It is as though good will is not permissible according to certain individuals, and that the American political sphere be interjected in all discourse, relevant or not. I think the award a noble act by our German allies.

[DarkFish]

Did I mistate the truth Oberon?Oberon's comment had nothing to do with your comment in itself but more that you persistently seem to try to turn every thread into an Obama-bashing thread, no matter if it's on topic or not. People are getting tired from it.

[Kongo Otto]

Sad thing is with the order of precedence it will be the last ribbon his rack, generally occupied by the lowest medal/award a soldier receives.



In the whole scheme of Imperial Germany awards/orders, the Iron Cross is a pretty low award. Looking at the period from 1600-1918 there are many orders/medals that far outranked the Iron Cross; like the Order of the Black Eagle, Prussian Order of the Red Eagle, Order of the Bear, Order of St. Henry the Lion or even a Hanseaten Cross, etc.. The iron cross has become more of an enigma than a true medal of extraordinary valor. Arguably the most respected and reverred medal Germany has ever awarded is the Pour Le Merite, it ranked about all the RK's and other high orders - much like the Victoria Cross today.

There are several orders of knighthood/aristocracy (Order of the Garter, Order of the Bath) that are very high ranking with some only being given to heads of state, but a Private that went through hell and back and was awarded the Victoria Cross will always outrank Orders that can be given only to kings/queens. Like the Pour Le Merite, Medal of Honor or Victoria cross the award for valor has always outranked any political award/order created no matter how prestigious it may be. Personally I love one of the laurels that comes with the MOH, that anyone wearing the MOH must be saluted first, regardless of rank. Very cool to that a 4 star general is required to salute first a MOH reciepient even he's just an E-1 private.

Well the difference between all the Orders from the old Monarchy and the Iron Cross is that the Iron Cross was the first one which could be awarded to every Soldier. The Pour le Merite for example was an Miltary Decoration exclusivly for Officers. So the Pour le Merite doesn't match the MOH or the VC at all, because they always could be awarded to any Soldier regardless his Rank.
Others of the Orders you mentioned had various classes which were resreved to the proper ranks, so a Private would never reach the Order of the Red Eagle anyways.
The First Class of the Order of the Red Eagle was for Rank from Major General and upwards.
1792 a II. and II. Class where added.

The Iron crosses from 1870 and 1914 where Military Decorations from the German Kaiserreich so they where Higher ranking Orders then the orders from the Kingdom of Bavaria, Kingdom of Prussia etc.

[krashkart]

"For your valiant efforts in Iraq we give you 14 female soldiers, 20 oxen, a fruit basket and an Abrams Tank."

:haha::rock:

[Rilder]

Me too:O:.

"For your valiant efforts in Iraq we give you 14 female soldiers, 20 oxen, a fruit basket and an Abrams Tank."

:rotfl2::rotfl2:

Though I would save the materials used on the basket and just fill the Abrams with fruit. :O:

Maybe save on gas and have the Abrams pulled by the Oxen....

[Torvald Von Mansee]

I take it there is no ribbon for this, and one will have to be designed.

[Torvald Von Mansee]

And....Barack Obama was given a Nobel Prize for nothing.

Can you see the worth?

Norway is Germany, now?