Question about the German Cross in Gold and Silver

[Kriegsmarine Großadmiral]

I found an information about the German Crosses: "Article three of the law governing the German Cross states that a prerequisite for the presentation of the German Cross in Gold or Silver is the ownership of the Iron Cross (1939) 1st Class or Clasp to the Iron Cross (1939) 1st Class, or the War Merit Cross 1st Class with Swords." Is this true? And if it is, could the German Cross in Gold or Silver also be awarded if the owner only had the Iron Cross 2nd Class 1939 or Clasp to the Iron Cross 2nd Class?
Thank you.

[luftk]

This sounds about right. I think the holder had to have the 1st class of the EK or KVK.

[HPL2008]

The prerequisite for an award of the German Cross in Gold was the previous award of the Iron Cross 1st Class; the prerequisite for an award of the German Cross in Silver was the previous award of the War Merit Cross 1st Class. The 2nd Class awards were not sufficient.