The Iron Cross originally was the symbol of Germany's armed forces (now the Bundeswehr) since about 1870. It is a military decoration only — civilians are ineligible. The Iron Cross has not been awarded since May 1945. In addition to the Napoleonic Wars, the Iron Cross was awarded during the Franco-Prussian War, and the First and Second World Wars. The Iron Cross is only awarded in wartime. Sometimes erroneously called the Maltese cross, the Iron Cross (German: das Eiserne Kreuz) is a military decoration of the Kingdom of Prussia, and later of Germany, which was established by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia and first awarded on 10 March 1813.
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