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List of Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds recipients

The Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds (German: Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern und Brillanten) was awarded to members of the Condor Legion in recognition of repeated acts above and beyond the call of duty during the Spanish Civil War.

The Spanish Cross in Silver with Swords, a similar but lower award.

Description and context edit

The Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds was instituted on 14 April 1939.[1] It was awarded in recognition of repeated acts above and beyond the call of duty.[1] It was awarded 28 times, mostly to members of the Luftwaffe, the air force of Nazi Germany.[2]

The Condor Legion, upon establishment, was made up of Kampfgruppe 88 (K/88), with three squadrons of Junkers Ju 52 bombers and Jagdgruppe 88 (J/88) with three squadrons of Heinkel He 51 fighters. They were supported by the reconnaissance Aufklärungsgruppe 88 (A/88), its maritime division, the Aufklärungsgruppe See 88 (AS/88), an anti-aircraft artillery group, the Flakbteilung 88 (F/88), and a signals group, the Nachrichtenabteilung 88 (LN/88).[3] Overall command was given to Hugo Sperrle, with Alexander Holle as chief of staff. Two armoured units under the command of Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma were also operational.[4]

Recipients edit

Name[5] Rank[5] Unit[5] Notes Picture
Wilhelm Balthasar Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant) J/88 Credited with 6 victories in Spain.[6]
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Otto Bertram Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant) J/88 Credited with 9 victories in Spain.[6]
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Peter Boddem Leutnant (Lieutenant) J/88 Awarded posthumously after Boddem was killed in a flying accident on 20 March 1939.[5] Credited with 10 victories in Spain.[6]
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Kraft Eberhardt Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant) J/88 Awarded posthumously after Eberhardt was shot down over Madrid on 13 November 1936.[5] Credited with 7 victories in Spain.[6]
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Wilhelm Ensslen Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant) J/88 Credited with 9 victories in Spain.[6]
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Paul Fehlhaber Leutnant (Lieutenant) LN/88 Awarded posthumously after Fehlhaber was killed by artillery fire near Bilbao on 11 June 1937.[5]
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Adolf Galland Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant) J/88 Staffel commander.  
Harro Harder Hauptmann (Captain) J/88 Credited with 11 victories in Spain.[6]
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Martin Harlinghausen Major (Major) AS/88
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Oskar Henrici Leutnant (Lieutenant) J/88 Awarded posthumously after Henrici was shot down over Madrid on 13 November 1936.[5]
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Hans-Detlef von Kessel Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant) A/88 Awarded posthumously after Kessel was shot down near Llanes on 4 September 1937.[5]
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Günther Lützow Hauptmann (Captain) J/88 Credited with 5 victories in Spain.[6]  
Werner Mölders Hauptmann (Captain) J/88 Succeeded Galland as Staffel commander in 1938.  
Freiherr Rudolf von Moreau [de] Hauptmann (Captain) K/88 Awarded posthumously after von Moreau died whilst testing a new Junkers Ju 88 in Germany on 4 April 1939.[5]
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Walter Oesau Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant) J/88 Credited with 9 victories in Spain.[6] Awarded the Spanish Wound Badge after being injured in action.[6]
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Freiherr Wolfram von Richthofen Generalmajor (Brigadier General) S/88 Chief of staff of the Condor Legion between 1936 and November 1938, when he took command.[7] Also given the Medalla Militar with Diamonds.[8]  
Heinz Runze Leutnant (Lieutenant) A/88 Awarded posthumously after Runze was killed over Teruel on 1 January 1938.[5]
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Wolfgang Schellmann Hauptmann (Captain) J/88 Credited with 12 victories in Spain.[6]
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Joachim Schlichting Hauptmann (Captain) J/88 Credited with 5 victories in Spain.[6]
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Reinhard Seiler Oberleutnant (Senior Lieutenant) J/88 Credited with 9 victories in Spain.[6]
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Hugo Sperrle General der Flieger (General, Luftwaffe) S/88 Commander of the Condor Legion from November 1936 until October 1937.[9] Also given the Medalla Militar with Diamonds.[8]  
Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma Oberst (Colonel) Panzerabteilung Imker
(Armoured unit 'Imker') 		Given command of the Condor Legion's ground units on 23 September 1936. Led armoured units at the Battle of Madrid. Also awarded the Medalla Militar with Diamonds, the Spanish Campaign medal and the Condor Legion Tank Combat Badge.[5]  
Hellmuth Volkmann [de] General der Flieger (General, Luftwaffe) S/88 Commander of the Condor Legion between October 1937 and November 1938.[9] Also given the Medalla Militar with Diamonds.[8]
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References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b Westwell (2004). p. 77.
  2. ^ Westwell (2004). p. 76.
  3. ^ Westwell (2004). p. 23.
  4. ^ Beevor (2006). p. 199.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Westwell (2004). p. 88.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Westwell (2004). p. 83.
  7. ^ Westwell (2004). p. 84.
  8. ^ a b c Jurado (2006). p. 55.
  9. ^ a b Westwell (2004). p. 85.

Sources edit

  • Beevor, Antony (2006). The Battle for Spain: The Spanish Civil War 1936–1939. London, United Kingdom: Phoenix. ISBN 978-0-7538-2165-7.
  • Jurado, Carlos Caballero (2006). The Condor Legion: German troops in the Spanish Civil War. Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-899-1. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
  • Westwell, Ian (2004). Condor Legion: The Wehrmacht's Training Ground. Spearhead. Vol. 15. Hersham, United Kingdom: Ian Allan publishing. ISBN 978-0-7110-3043-5.
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