[Tom Semenza]

Ruy,

This is a quote from Bergström's Graf & Grislawski (pg. 95):

"...the German Cross in Gold...irreverently dubbed by the front-line soldiers as 'The Fried Egg,' due to its appearance, was a political award, invented by Hermann Göring...Grislawski's political background, or rather lack of such represented by his refusal to join the Hitler Jugend, had made him be passed over when the German Cross in Gold awards were given to other aces of 9./JG 52."

Grislawski's father had been an active socialist in the 1930's and adamantly refused to allow his sons to join any Nazi sponsored organizations.

On the other hand Veit Scherzer in Die Träger des Deutschen Kreuzes in Gold der Luftwaffe, 1941-1945 says the the idea originated with Hitler himself as a sort of "Goldleaf to the Iron Cross First Class." Certainly this award was not limited to the Luftwaffe and nowhere in the official order establishing the new award on 28.09.41 is there any explicit hint that political correctness was one of the prerequisites for the award. However the DKiG was also sarcastistically referred to as the "Parteiabzeichen für Kurzsichtige" (The Party Badge for the Short-Sighted!)

That said, Grislawski, despite being an Eichenlaubträger, never received the DKiG. My feeling is that the Reichsmarschall could withhold this award at his wim, but that's only a guess on my part.

Regards,
Tom Semenza