I read the BBC’s news site this evening and on there was an article about the German President backing plans for a new medal for their armed forces, but not the Iron Cross. Currently they have only four medals to express exceptional service.

From the German Defence Minister, Thomas Raabe:

“we are not thinking of bringing it back, though we do want to introduce a medal to honour soldiers who show courage”.

That’s a pity. I don’t think that the Iron Cross had any bad connotations or inherent evil-ness. It was an award with a great history, and a great deal of honour associated with it. Why not bring it back?

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