The Iron Cross. (EK)

The Iron Cross (German: Eisernes Kreuz, abbreviated EK) 

was a military decoration in Nazi Germany (1933–1945), the German Empire (1871–1918), and the Kingdom of Prussia. The pattern, a black cross pattée with a silver or white outline, was inspired by the medieval Teutonic Order's insignia and was worn by its knights in the thirteenth century. In addition to serving as a military medal, the Prussian Army, the Imperial German Army, and the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic all used it as an emblem; the Wehrmacht, on the other hand, used the Balkenkreuz (bar cross) version. The Bundeswehr, the contemporary German military, now uses the Iron Cross as its emblem. 

During the Napoleonic Wars, on March 17, 1813, King Frederick William III of Prussia instituted the Iron Cross award (EK 1813). Queen Louise, his late wife, was the first to receive the award (posthumously), and it was backdated to her birthday on March 10. During World War I (EK 1914), World War II (EK 1939), and the Franco-Prussian War (EK 1870), the Iron Cross was also given out. The Nazi government created their own version of the medal during World War II by overlaying it with a swastika. Though some were given to civilians for serving in the military, such as to Melitta Schenk Gräfin von Stauffenberg and Hanna Reitsch for being civilian test pilots during World War II, the Iron Cross was typically only given to military personnel. 

The symbol has also been incorporated into Heavy Metal fashion and the outlaw motorcycle subculture since the late 20th century. 

Black Cross emblem 

Additional details include the Reichskrieg flag, the Prussian flag, the German flag, and the Teutonic Order's Black Cross. 

From 1871 until now, the Prussian and German armies have used the Black Cross (Schwarzes Kreuz) as their emblem. When Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia commissioned the Iron Cross as the first military decoration accessible to all ranks, including enlisted men, it was created in conjunction with the German Campaign of 1813. From this point on, the Black Eagle and Black Cross were both displayed on the Prussian war flag. Karl Friedrich Schinkel, a neoclassical architect, modelled it after Friedrich Wilhelm III. In the end, the design is a variation of the Teutonic Order's black cross. Throughout the order's history, this heraldic cross has taken on different forms, such as a Latin cross, a cross potent, a cross fleury, and occasionally even a cross pattée. 

The Quadriga of the Goddess of Peace was restored on top of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate after it was taken from Paris during Napoleon's downfall. Peace was transformed into a Goddess of Victory by inserting an Iron Cross into her laurel wreath. Schinkel crowned the top of his design for the National Monument for the Liberation Wars in 1821 with an Iron Cross, which became the name of the hill it stands on and, a century later, of the quarter that bears the same name. 

The German Empire's combat and naval flags featured the Black Cross. Before the more straightforward Balkenkreuz took its place in 1915, the Black Cross served as the emblem of the German Army. The use of the emblem in different forms was also passed down to the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic (1921–35), the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany (1935–45), and the Bundeswehr (1 October 1956 to the present). A new design in blue and silver was introduced for use in other contexts after German reunification, while the traditional black design is used on armoured vehicles and aircraft.