Should Germany Bring Back the Iron Cross?

I should say so, along with that funny salute and silly walks.

Seriously, this medal seems to have been established long before any Nazi involvement and appears to have become, well up untill 1945 at least, a part of the establishment, so where’s the problem. We winge about the loss of our established, traditional icons, so why shouldn’t they be allowed to ressurect theirs. Are we concerned that the Russians are now relating to their former glories in whatever form it took and we are now trying to deny the Germans their own history.
Nazism was evil, we all know that, but it happened and can’t be swept under the carpet. There are so many artifacts from that time hidden away, look at Fascist art, is it to be forever locked in the vaults, why are we so frightened of the past, I think it’s unlikely that introducing the Iron Cross will cause hordes to march across the Nuremburg Stadium, and what if they did, we have other cultures to worry about.
I remember watching the British led invasion of Kosovo on Sky and the great amount of publicity given to the German armoured division that supported them, it was compared to nervously watching the Afrika Korps move into position, thats what we were being told, bloody ridiculous, we have to move on, and medals from the history of this great nation, whatever it’s past ‘merits’ should be accepted wholeheartedly with respect to their past.
Incidentally, how many Germans have been involved in any firefights and have any been actually killed in any situation, I would be interested to know whether they have been let off the NATO leash.

Whilst the German forces were defeated trying to promote and defend an evil ideology their fight was one of the most remarkable in human history. For any army to make a last stand in its own capital city after 5 years of near total war is astonishing and politics and war crimes aside it is something that the German military establishment should be proud of. Now compare it to France in 1940 and see what I mean.

I should say so, along with that funny salute and silly walks.

Seriously, this medal seems to have been established long before any Nazi involvement and appears to have become, well up untill 1945 at least, a part of the establishment, so where’s the problem. We winge about the loss of our established, traditional icons, so why shouldn’t they be allowed to ressurect theirs. Are we concerned that the Russians are now relating to their former glories in whatever form it took and we are now trying to deny the Germans their own history.
Nazism was evil, we all know that, but it happened and can’t be swept under the carpet. There are so many artifacts from that time hidden away, look at Fascist art, is it to be forever locked in the vaults, why are we so frightened of the past, I think it’s unlikely that introducing the Iron Cross will cause hordes to march across the Nuremburg Stadium, and what if they did, we have other cultures to worry about.
I remember watching the British led invasion of Kosovo on Sky and the great amount of publicity given to the German armoured division that supported them, it was compared to nervously watching the Afrika Korps move into position, thats what we were being told, bloody ridiculous, we have to move on, and medals from the history of this great nation, whatever it’s past ‘merits’ should be accepted wholeheartedly with respect to their past.
Incidentally, how many Germans have been involved in any firefights and have any been actually killed in any situation, I would be interested to know whether they have been let off the NATO leash.

I don’t have a problem with it. The only thing I have a problem with is the German government won’t let the their forces go anywhere these days so they are unlikely to be in a situation where they deserve such a medal.

Indeed the irony is that the best way to deal with that is to make the symbol widely used. The more common something is the more it undermines the potency that the minority desire of it.

Absolutely correct.

Why not bring it back they’ll never be awarded because the Germans are to scared to get stuck into a fight now a days

Whilst the German state and people may have a reluctance to engage in conflict beyond their own borders I can assure you that their soldiers are fine and brave men who can be relied upon by their allies.

Extreme right-wing groups in the UK drape themselves in the Cross of St George and/or the Union Flag, but nothing stops the same flag(s) from being flown from official and historic buildings throughout the land. (Unless you’re a Daily Mail conspiracy theorist, of course. 😉 )

Indeed the irony is that the best way to deal with that is to make the symbol widely used. The more common something is the more it undermines the potency that the minority desire of it.

Anyway if we were to ban all symbols related to neo-nazis and their ilk we would have to learn to count without using the number 8.

Why not bring it back they’ll never be awarded because the Germans are to scared to get stuck into a fight now a days

Yes, and I’ll bet you’d be willing to prove the truth of that by saying it to a bunch of German skinheads. 😎

I did hear many years ago the Nazi swastika is actally the mirror image of a religious(?) symbol that means good luck.

Is this true or was I fed bull?

It has many purposes, Usually it means sun in european cultures, and in finnish mythology its assosiated to the thunder god, and Hindu’s and Budhas use it as a symbol of happines. It was in all a good symbol before nazis ruined it.

Why not bring it back they’ll never be awarded because the Germans are to scared to get stuck into a fight now a days

The German President Horst Köhler decided today, that a new “Medal for Exceptional Bravery” should be created. 🙂

Offered tongue-in-cheek…

Does this mean they’re planning some military adventures? 😀
If you’re not planning a war, why do you need a military medal for bravery?:rolleyes:
One of you call Supermarine, I’ll wake the French…. 🙂

The German President Horst Köhler decided today, that a new “Medal for Exceptional Bravery” should be created. 🙂

IMHO, the better Decision!
The Iron Cross has still wartime associationshere in Germany.

But the Iron Cross can be still worn in public. Due to german law the Nazi swastika has to be removed! In the 50’s and 60’s Men whore the Iron Cross and even the Knight’s Cross at public occasions, but after the German student movement during the late 1960s in Germany (68′ Generation) nobody with a Iron Cross wanted to be put in the (wrong) right corner.

With that we should bring back our own swastika

But If I’m not totally wrong, isn’t the imperial German war flag (with iron cross) used lot by current neo-nazi/nationalist fundamentalist in Germany? And that they had plans to ban those too along with swastika and assorted?

Yes, the former German Left-green government even wanted to ban the swastika in the EU. But that was rejected by the EU parliament.
The Finnish Air Force still has the swastika on thier Flag.
Every culture should decide for itself.

I did hear many years ago the Nazi swastika is actally the mirror image of a religious(?) symbol that means good luck.

Is this true or was I fed bull?

Yeas, but English nationalist have different load on their shoulder than in Germany. And its not denyable that these things are really important and sensitive to germans themselves…

….But If Im not totally wrong, isent the imperial german warflag (with iron cross) used lot by current neo-nazi/nationalist fundamentalist in germany?…..

Extreme right-wing groups in the UK drape themselves in the Cross of St George and/or the Union Flag, but nothing stops the same flag(s) from being flown from official and historic buildings throughout the land. (Unless you’re a Daily Mail conspiracy theorist, of course. 😉 )

With that we should bring back our own swastika;)

But If Im not totally wrong, isent the imperial german warflag (with iron cross) used lot by current neo-nazi/nationalist fundamentalist in germany? And that they had plans to ban those too along with swastika and assorted?

Why not let them have part of their military heritage back?
(especially since it predates WWII).

Go for it, great symbol with a great history. Obviously the Swastika would be different (in the German context, of course it is benign in India) but I have no problem with the Iron Cross.

I dont have any issues either, the cross always looks kinda sexy in a menacing way on the Tornado!;)

I can’t see the problem, either.

As you mention, the design is already highly visible on German military vehicles and equipment.

Despite popular misconception, the Eisernes Kreuz pre-dates the Nazis by a considerable margin – well over a century, in fact.

Why not bring back the Pour le Mérite as well?

That would really annoy the French……. 😎