Iron Crosses as bravery awards to women

[BlackcowboyBS]

Gentlemen,

it has been discussed since years 'n years, if there had been iron cross awards to women in WW1 and 2. Well at least I have found a very interesting short article in a newspaper from Austria from 1915 claiming that at least 3 Germany ladies haven been awarded with the cross of iron for bravery deeds! The Newspaper is called Wiener Hausfrauen and you might translate this to: The housewives of Vienna! To be honnest I can't tell you how reliable a newspaper with the Name: The Housewives of Vienna is, but in issue no. 567 from 7th of february 1915 they reported that 3 German Ladies had been awarded with the IC2.

 

The Names are:

• Elfriede Scherhans (nurse)
• Frida Gessert (nurse)
• Dr. Reimer (chauffeur)

The first two were awarded for being nurses with no fear and being extraordinary brave, the last one for being a chauffeur for a division on the eastern front.

 

In the same issue the newspapers presented a photo of Elisabeth Lorenz who was awarded the golden merit cross on the ribbon of the bravery medal of Austria. She was married to a doctor who volunteered for working in a field hospital. She followed him with a special permission of the archduchess Blanka and drove a car to collect the wounded soldiers even under hostile fire! (Issue 564 from 3rd of january 1915)

 

As said, I have no clue about the trustworthieness of the two small articles from this austrian newspaper, but nevertheless I am amazed about this finding and hope that you are as well. 

 

Edited February 1, 2022 by BlackcowboyBS

[Daniel Krause]

The 4 ladies with the EK2 in WW1 in my list are:

Frieda Gessert,

Elfriede Scherhans, geb. Buchholz

Sophie Gräfin zu Törring-Jettenbach,

Lonny Hertha von Versen.

 

Not sure if Dr. Reimer did indeed get one.

 

Best,

Daniel

 

[v.Perlet]

Hello BalckcowboyBS,

 

very interesting find! - thanks for sharing.

As for WW2 there are at least 30-40 documented cases of women having been awarded the EK - most prominent being Hanna Reitsch.

I heard about a Belgian nurse working for a German hospital (no not he Red Baron nurse) in WW1 and receiving an EK - but I do not know if this account is verified.

 

Regards

v.Perlet

[JohanH]

The jewish nurse Dina Poljakoff in Finland was awarded the Iron cross in WW2 but refused to accept it. 

[Daniel Krause]

[graham]

7 hours ago, v.Perlet said:

 

I heard about a Belgian nurse working for a German hospital (no not he Red Baron nurse) in WW1 and receiving an EK - but I do not know if this account is verified.

 

Regards

v.Perlet

 

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/allied-spy-got-german-iron-cross-medal-m.html

 

 

Edited February 1, 2022 by graham

[v.Perlet]

7 hours ago, graham said:

 

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/allied-spy-got-german-iron-cross-medal-m.html

 

Hello graham,

yes this is the Belgium nurse (I had forgotten about the spy part) - but I don't know if this is just a nice story or a real occurrence.

Regards

v.Perlet