Originally Posted by Cuddles

POI Neither the Iron Cross, nor this new medal, are maltese crosses. This "new" decoration looks remarkably like, in ribbon and cross, the existing Bundeswehr Cross of Honour.

That's exactly what it is, Cuddles. They've just added a fourth category for bravery to the award.

MsG

Originally Posted by fantassin

Originally Posted by filthyphil

Originally Posted by littlejim

Originally Posted by DavidBOC

If this keeps up the French will be cranking up production at the white flag factory.

The French suffered a higher rate of casualties in World War I in proportion to its population than any other combatant.

Wasn't that Australia? Or Serbia?

From a US source:

France never fully recovered from the results of World War I. Here is what the French lost from 1914 to 1918:

1,357,800 Killed or died
4,266,000 Wounded
537,000 Prisoners and missing

Total. 6,160,800

The French had mobilized 8,410,000 men. They lost 6,160,800 -- or 73.3% No nation had ever suffered such a staggering loss. No nation had shown a greater record of sheer courage and tenacity. There was scarcely a family in France that did not number one or more of its members among the dead. World War I. left France weak and exhausted - for the second war Germany launched against her within a generation.

http://112gripes.com/77.html

Serbia suffered the most with some 750,000 deaths from a population of four and a half million - so 16%. The French total was around 5% with a population of 40 million. However it all depends on how you choose to interpret the figures - check out the Aussie figures.

http://europeanhistory.about.com/cs/...casualties.htm

[quote="iamalondoncrab"]

Originally Posted by Kitmarlowe

Ohhhh...."Let's go where the Iron Crosses grow..."

Shouldn't that be "Let me show you where the Iron Crosses grow..."? Or are we refering to different things?

Anyway, good on the krauts. Bravery awards shouldn't be political.[/quote]

Unfortunately that is exactly what they are here. There are a number of politicians, die Linken, die Grünen, who are definately against it. Something to do with recent history and a disliking of the glorification of war. Even those who are for it are not exactly overflowing with enthusiasm.
One minor point it is not a "new Iron Cross", that would definately be a political minefield.

Nice to see that the Bundeswehr efforts have gained some appreciation.

Blimey. They're at it again. "Hildegarde!! Vo ist meinen jack-boots. Gott mit Uns. Nach engerlund.!"

Originally Posted by SomersetMan

I'm told that in the late 1950s there was a serving TA Soldier in Bristol who had the Iron Cross. He won it as a teenager fighting on the eastern front, he was a Czech German (Sudeten) or something simmilar. After the war he was lucky enough to end up in the UK, became a British Subject, and Joined the TA. As it was a bravery award and not political, he was allowed to wear it, with the Nazi symbols ground off, or so I was told over a beer by an old boy who served with him!

Don't know about being in the TA but Herbert Sulzbach was actually in the Pioneers in WW2 after receiving the Iron Cross in WW1. Herbert Sulzbach also recieved the OBE, he died in 1985.

All you need to know:
http://www.royalpioneercorps.co.uk/r...germanguns.htm

Because it was first awarded on 10 March 1813, it can hardly be described as a Nazi award, so why all the fuss, at the end of the day the Germans are doing a job, ass in the grass and all that, which they should get recognition for....

The Times has a fairly interesting take on it:

Kartonkopf gongs

Originally Posted by tattybadger

The Times has a fairly interesting take on it:

Kartonkopf gongs

The Boxheeds themselves translate "Boxheed" with "Kistenkopp", Tatty. Just thought you might like to know. :D

MsG

Ich bin ein kuggelschreiber. und zwei damen fur sex bitte.

Originally Posted by Bugsy

Originally Posted by tattybadger

The Times has a fairly interesting take on it:

Kartonkopf gongs

The Boxheeds themselves translate "Boxheed" with "Kistenkopp", Tatty. Just thought you might like to know. :D

MsG

And they would correctly spell Boxhead, sticklers that they are for Korrektheit. :D

Originally Posted by filthyphil

Originally Posted by littlejim

Originally Posted by DavidBOC

If this keeps up the French will be cranking up production at the white flag factory.

The French suffered a higher rate of casualties in World War I in proportion to its population than any other combatant.

Wasn't that Australia? Or Serbia?

Not to sure about overall population but Australia had the highest casualty rate for men in Uniform around 63% if I remember right.