The Iron Cross was a military decoration awarded to soldiers for bravery in the 19th and 20th century German military. The decoration is most widely known as a Nazi military award which was issued between 1939 and 1945 during the Second World War. The decoration also was issued on the planet Ekos in the 23rd century.
The German Iron Cross
Both the Second and First Class versions of the Iron Cross
The standard Iron Cross was issued in two classes. The Iron Cross Second Class was worn as a red, black, and white ribbon suspended from the second button of a recepiant's uniform tunic. The Iron Cross First Class was worn as a full sized medal pinned to the front of a uniform jacket. A higher order of the Iron Cross, the Knight's Cross, was awarded for extreme battlefield bravery and worn suspended from the neck. (ENT: "Storm Front, Part II")
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was worn suspended from the neck
Recreations of the Iron Cross were also seen in a holographic simulation created by the Hirogen onboard the USS Voyager. The Hirogen Commander Karr, dressed as an SS Colonel, displayed the Iron Cross Second Class ribbon while hunting Voyager crewmembers in a recreation of World War II France.
Other members of the Hirogen, also participating in this "holodeck klling game", displayed both the Iron First and Second Classes. (VOY: "The Killing Game")
The Ekosian Iron Cross
Daras' Iron Cross
While the Iron Cross saw a resurgence on the planet Ekos in the 23rd century. The Ekosian society had been modelled after Nazi Germany by John Gill, with the Ekosian military and Nazi Party adopting the Iron Cross as an important decoration.
The Ekosian version of the Iron Cross Second Class was worn as a full medal on the front of a recepiants's uniform, much like the First Class version had been worn on Earth. Daras was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class for turning over her father as a traitor, though in fact Daras was a member of the resistance movement. (TOS: "Patterns of Force")
- Other than the Iron Cross Second Class worn by Daras, there are no higher versions of the Ekosian Iron Cross seen on screen. The Ekosians most likely had a First Class Iron Cross, given the existence of a Second Class version.
Background
The highest grade of the Iron Cross seen on camera was the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with oak leaves and swords, worn by the German General in "Storm Front".
There also existed a Knight's Cross with Diamonds as well as a Golden Knight's Cross but these grades have never been seen on camera.
The highest possible award of the Iron Cross was the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, which was an award held solely by Hermann Göring. Göring makes a brief appearance in "Storm Front, Part II" but the Grand Cross is not visable.