Women awarded the War Merit Cross (Kriegsverdienstkreuz)

Discussions on the role played by and situation of women in the Third Reich not covered in the other sections. Hosted by Vikki.
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jared53402
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Women awarded the War Merit Cross (Kriegsverdienstkreuz)

#1

Post by jared53402 » 14 Jun 2016, 04:22

Twelve women overseers (SS-Aufseherinnen) in the concentration camps are known to have been awarded War Service Cross-2nd Class without Swords (Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter) medals for their work, while many others were nominated but apparently never received them. This medal was for the “special merits when performing other war tasks where enemy attacks were not present.” Most Aufseherinnen nominated for the War Merit Cross, only received it without swords, but one woman, Emma Zimmer, received her decoration with swords. On September 15, 1943, in an SS ceremony at Auschwitz, woman camp leader Zimmer, along with eighteen other SS men received the War Service Cross Second Class with Swords (Kriegsvierdienstkreuz zweiter Klasse mit Schwertern) for their camp service.

This is an outline of the few women guards who received War Service Crosses for concentration camp duty:
Becker-Pritzkoleit, Dorothea: "Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter” (War Service Cross-2nd Class without Swords)
Bernigau, Jane (Gerda): “Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter” (War Service Cross-2nd Class without Swords)
Binz, Dorothea ‘Thea’: “Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter” (War Service Cross-2nd Class without Swords)
Brandl, Therese (‘Rosi’): “Kriegsverdienstkreuz” (War Service Iron Cross-Class unknown)
Braunsteiner, Hermine: “Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter” (War Service Cross-2nd Class without Swords)
Brunner, Luise: Jan. 30, 1944 “Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter” (War Service Cross-2nd Class without Swords)
Danz, Luise: “Kriegsverdiestkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter” (War Service Cross-2nd Class without Swords)
Grese, Irma: “Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter” (War Service Cross-2nd Class without Swords)
Lächert, Hildegard: “Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter” (War Service Cross-2nd Class without Swords)
Langefeld, Johanna: “Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter” (War Service Cross-2nd Class without Swords
Liehr, Gertrud: “Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter” (War Service Cross-2nd Class without Swords)
Lotze-Kock, Elfriede: Jan. 30, 1944 “Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter” (War Service Cross-2nd Class without Swords) Mandl, Maria: Jan. 30, 1944 “Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter” (War Service Cross-2nd Class without Swords)Steinhoff, Gerda: “Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter” (War Service Iron Cross-2nd Class without Swords) Zimmer, Emma: Sep. 15, 1943 “Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse mit Schwertern” (War Service Iron Cross-2nd Class with Swords)

Note:
Recommended for the same medals:
Gertrud Heise,30
Irmgard Hofmann,31
Emma Kowa,31
Anna Jahn (or John),32
Anna Meinel,34
Herta Bieneck,34
Else Hawlik, 35,
Maria Mühl,32
Margot Drechsel,36
Anneliese Franz, 36
Hertha Ehlert, 37
Elisabeth Lupka, 37
Elisabeth Saretzki, 37

and SS overseer Ruth Drescher, who served at Wittenberg and Leipzig-Schönau sub-camps, was acknowledged for her distinguished service to the SS in her personal file. 33

The following SS-Helferinnen were also recommended for the same medals:
Inge Dörwald, 34
Gisela Drews, 37
Gerda Ernst, 37
Lotte Gramattke, 34
Aniana Lässig, 37
Agnes Peukert, 34
Hermine Schachtner, 37
Charlotte Schünzel, 37
Therese Stieff, 37 and
Erna Tietje, 37
Last edited by Dieter Zinke on 14 Jun 2016, 10:10, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Spelling correcte, newly structured and made readable

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Vikki
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Re: Women awarded the War Merit Cross (Kriegsverdienstkreuz)

#2

Post by Vikki » 24 Jun 2016, 02:33

jared53402, I've split your post above from the Women Awarded the Iron Cross thread at http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=77&t=27808 into a new thread since it deals with awards of the Kriegsverdienstkreuz rather than the Iron Cross.

~Vikki


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Grese_Book_Author
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Re: Women awarded the War Merit Cross (Kriegsverdienstkreuz)

#3

Post by Grese_Book_Author » 24 Feb 2024, 04:50

jared53402 wrote:
14 Jun 2016, 04:22
Twelve women overseers (SS-Aufseherinnen) in the concentration camps are known to have been awarded War Service Cross-2nd Class without Swords (Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter) medals for their work, while many others were nominated but apparently never received them. This medal was for the “special merits when performing other war tasks where enemy attacks were not present.”
Grese, Irma: “Kriegsverdienstkreuz II. Klasse ohne Schwerter” (War Service Cross-2nd Class without Swords)
I wanted to ensure this was correct (please don't think I am being cheeky) as in my research I have found she was only nominated for the award but did not receive...?
May I ask for the source so I can cite it? I am trying to correct some fallacies I am finding in other books! Thank you so much. Have spent days looking for this info.

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