Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross

The Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Stern zum Großkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) was the highest military decoration of the Kingdom of Prussia and the German Empire. It was considered a senior decoration to the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross.

The Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to the most outstanding of generals who performed feats of leadership to the extreme benefit of the German state. It was awarded only twice, over a century apart, to Field Marshal Gebhard von Blücher in 1813 and to Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg in 1918. Von Blücher's award was referred to as the Blücherstern while Hindenburg's was known as the Hindenburgstern.

During the reign of Nazi Germany, it was intended to present the Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross as an award to the most successful German General of the Second World War, once Germany had achieved victory. As Germany was defeated in 1945, the decoration was never bestowed under Nazi authority and has not been awarded since.

The only known prototype example of this decoration is today located at the Museum of the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.

Images

Image	Name
150px	1813 Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross
150px	1914 Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross
150px	1939 Star of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross

See also

• Iron Cross