The Collector’s Encyclopaedia · Decorations · Wehrmacht awards

Spanish Cross: History, Grades and Collector’s Guide

Created 1939
Awarded to German personnel who served in the Spanish Civil War, chiefly the Condor Legion
Grades Several grades, with and without swords
Related Spanish decorations awarded to the same men by Franco’s side
In the collection No pieces currently available

The Spanish Cross was Germany’s award for its intervention in the Spanish Civil War. For Spanish collectors it has particular interest, because it ties German militaria directly to the history of Spain between 1936 and 1939.

What Was the Spanish Cross?

The cross was created in 1939, after the end of the Spanish Civil War, for German personnel who had served there, above all in the Condor Legion, the Luftwaffe-led force sent to support Franco. It was made in several grades, with swords for combat service and without swords for non-combat service. The Deutsches Historisches Museum holds an example in bronze with swords.

The Condor Legion’s bombing of Guernica in April 1937 is part of the history this award commemorates.

Who Awarded It, and Which Documents Go With It?

Award documents and entries in service books identify the recipient and grade. Many Condor Legion veterans also received Spanish decorations. See award documents, Adolf Galland and Werner Mölders.

What Should Collectors Watch For?

  • Higher grades are rare and frequently copied.
  • Documents are scarcer than the crosses.
  • Construction details need comparison with authenticated examples.

Legal note. In Germany the 1957 Orders and Decorations Act allows Second World War awards to be worn only without National Socialist emblems, which is why “1957 pattern” versions without the swastika exist. The public display of Nazi symbols is restricted in Germany, Austria and several other countries. Owning, buying and selling original decorations as historical objects is treated differently from country to country, so check the law where you live and where you ship.

Collector’s Note

For a collector in Spain, the Spanish Cross is where German and Spanish history meet on one object. I always describe it with the Civil War, and Guernica, in view.

Related Entries and Pieces

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who received the Spanish Cross?

German personnel who served in the Spanish Civil War, mainly with the Condor Legion.

When was it created?

In 1939.

What do the swords mean?

They mark awards for combat service.

Historical Responsibility Notice: this entry documents historical figures and artefacts of the National Socialist period for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology, and it is written in memory of the victims of the regime.

References & Further Reading