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The German page (https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/de/wiki/Kriegsverdienstkreuz_%281939%29 ) seems to be quite extensive. Perhaps a translation of that would help? 04:21, 28 February 2011 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.207.237.162 (talk)

I was thinking the volume/number of listed persons should be trimmed down. I was thinking of leaving those who are well-known, so to speak. A list of six to ten or so. Comments welcome. Kierzek (talk) 18:00, 13 December 2016 (UTC)[reply]

• Per article it was awarded some 4.9 million times and there are just a few dozen listed; all with their own respective pages. Why should it be trimmed down? ...GELongstreet (talk) 20:25, 13 December 2016 (UTC)[reply]

I did not see the point really of having a laundry list of names, which have no particular order. Kierzek (talk) 14:40, 15 December 2016 (UTC)[reply]

I’m not a fan of including sections of “Notable recipients” since this involves OR to some extend, i.e. who determines which recipients are “notable” and which are not? So I would advocate removing the list altogether. The category at the bottom of the page provides an easy access to such a list quite for those interested.

If the decision is to trim down a list to those who are generally well known or important historical figures, i.e. Werner von Braun, Papen, etc., then I suggest renaming the section to “Select recipients” as more neutral. K.e.coffman (talk) 23:10, 15 December 2016 (UTC)[reply]

I changed it to "select", more npov, I agree. I still don't believe we need a lengthy "laundry list" of recipients. Kierzek (talk) 15:10, 13 February 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Wolfgang Martini (German radarpioneer and head of Luftwaffes signal corps) received the Knights Cross of the Kriegsverdienst Cross w. Swords.

How those everyone feel about adding him to the list? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.38.143.54 (talk) 04:34, 3 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]

I was under the impression that with or without swords referred to whether or not the "meritorious act" in question occurred in active combat, and that both varieties were issued to military personnel depending on circumstance (not sure about civilians). However, the article states the deciding factor is whether or not the recipient was "military" (scare-quotes as some people conflate the term with "infantry or other combat division") or a civilian. The German article indicates the former is true, that active combat rather than active service was the qualifier for "with swords", and this article previously agreed until an unexplained change in 2016. It now seems incorrect, unless the German article is wrong. --Vometia (talk) 07:00, 15 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

@User:Vometia The answer to your question can be found in two of the standard works on decorations of the Third Reich, both of which are listed as sources in this article. John R. Angolia in For Führer and Fatherland, p.300, states that "The basic criteria for award centered about bravery and service not in direct connection with combat. The award was authorized for military personnel and for civilians … The addition of the swords to the Cross reflected bravery while that without was rendered for service". Christopher Ailsby in Combat Medals of the Third Reich, p. 76, states that "the version without swords was awarded for service in the furtherance of the war effort and those with swords for bravery not directly connected to front-line activities". So, the short answer to your question is that the distinction seems to center on the nature of the action being recognized (bravery or service) not on the status of the recipient (military or civilian). I have edited the article to reflect this information. Thank you for bringing attention to this issue. Historybuff0105 (talk) 22:35, 16 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for looking into that so comprehensively and sorting it out. :) --Vometia (talk) 18:22, 17 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]