The Cross of Spain was established on 14 April 1939 by Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler. It was awarded to honored German volunteers of the German Wehrmacht during the Spanish Civil War. The latter fought on the side of General Franco in the Condor legion for the defeat of Bolshevism. The cross could be awarded to the crews of ships that took part in hostilities. The cross was installed in 3 stages. The golden cross was awarded exclusively with swords, in silver and bronze crosses with and without swords came to the award. A prerequisite for awarding swords was the use with the touch of the enemy in hostilities. Without swords, volunteers were awarded who stayed in Spain for at least 3 months in support of the legion at official posts or on kriegsmarine ships. A special form of gold with diamonds was awarded only for especially outstanding services, on May 31, 1939 by Hermann Goering in Hamburg. 28 gold crosses with diamonds. Other awards: bronze without swords about 7800, with swords about 8500, silver without swords about 330, with swords about 8300 and in gold with swords about 1100.
Maltese-shaped bronze non-ferrous metal cross. Cross arms with smooth, polished, raised edge. The insides are finely indented. Between the cross sleeves, respectively, the Luftwaffe eagle flying to the right with outstretched wings, in the paws of a swastika set on a point. Behind the eagles, 2 swords are crossed through the center. Central round shield (16 mm). At the back is a vertical pin.
Front side:
Downside:
Photos of www.militaria-berlin.de
Obverse: Spanish cross in bronze with swords
Reverse: Spanish cross in bronze with swords
Awards of World War II