German Armed Forces awarded 14 American soldiers

[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.

[Tessa]

Originally Posted by gimpy117

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.

Originally Posted by August

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...

Me too.

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

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Safe-Keeper

Me too.

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

Originally Posted by Oberon

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]

Originally Posted by The Third Man

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]

Originally Posted by Oberon

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]

Originally Posted by The Third Man

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]

Originally Posted by Tessa

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]

Originally Posted by Safe-Keeper

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

Originally Posted by Safe-Keeper

Me too.

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

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

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]

Originally Posted by The Third Man

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

Can you see the worth?

Norway is Germany, now?