100th Anniversary of the First WWI Awards of EK?

[IrishGunner]

The 1914 version of the EK was instituted on 5 August 1914.

Just curious, anyone know the date of the first award of EKs for WWI?

Edited August 19, 2014 by IrishGunner

[Paul C]

If I were to guess I would say it was the date the Kaiser sign the decree instituting the 1914 EK.

[Bernhard H.Holst]

Hello:

The only information I could find was a mention in Harold Geissler's ref. book on the Iron Cross. He states that a Hauptmann von Harbou, staff officer during the German attack on Liege was sent to Berlin with the news and received the Iron Cross directly. As source he gives a newspaper but no exact date is given..

It this account is accurate it reminds me of the beginning of the Battle of Verdun when Fort Douaumont was taken. The then Oblt. von Francois was sent back to give the news of the occupation of the fort. He received the Pour le Merite directly and has been the subject of discussion ever since as to his actual role in the taking of the fort. His battalion commander who wrote a book about it after the war sidesteps the matter.

Bernhard H. Holst

Edited October 25, 2014 by Bernhard H.Holst