List of Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds recipients



The Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds (Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern und Brillanten) was awarded to members of the Condor Legion in recognition of repeated acts above and beyond the call of duty during the Spanish Civil War. It was awarded just 28 times.

Description and context
The Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds was instituted on 14 April 1939, in a document called the Statute of the Spanish Cross (Satzung des Spanien-Kreuzes) which defined the three levels of Spanish Cross (gold, silver and bronze) and the requirements to meet each. No gold Spanish Crosses were issued without swords. It was awarded in recognition of repeated acts above and beyond the call of duty. Although most Spanish Crosses were presented in Hamburg on 31 May 1939, those who were awarded the gold version received theirs in Berlin on 6 June. It was awarded 28 times, mostly to members of the Luftwaffe, the air force of Nazi Germany. Fifteen of these people were also awarded the Individual Medalla Militar, the highest medal awarded to Germans by the Spanish. The three commanders – Hugo Sperrle, Heltmuth Volkmann, and Wolfram von Richthofen – were given the Medalla Militar with Diamonds, along with Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma. By comparison, the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords was awarded 1,126 times.

The Condor Legion, upon establishment, was made up of Kampfgruppe 88 (K/88), with three squadrons of Junkers Ju 52 bombers and Jagdgruppe 88 (J/88) with three squadrons of Heinkel He 51 fighters. They were supported by the reconnaissance Aufklärungsgruppe 88 (A/88), its maritime division, the Aufklärungsgruppe See 88 (AS/88), an anti-aircraft artillery group, the Flakbteilung 88 (F/88), and a signals group, the Nachrichtenabteilung 88 (LN/88). Overall command was given to Hugo Sperrle, with Alexander Holle as chief of staff. Two armoured units under the command of Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma were also operational.