[Tom Semenza]

Jeremy,

Unfortunately I cannot site any precise references for my impression and your example of Cramon-Troubadel is well taken. The DKiG could be awarded either for bravery or leadership qualities as was the case for Cramon-Troubadel.

The DKiG was however not specifically a bridge between EKI and the RK. Although a DKiG recipient first had to hold the EKI, there were numerous instances in which RK winners never received the DKiG or received the latter after the award of the RK. One example is Alfred Grislawski who grew up in an actively socialist family and was never a member of the Hitler Youth (this may be from Bergstrom's biography of Graf & Grislawski.)

Likewise the Ehrenpokal was completely outside the EK award system and was given at the discretion on Reichsmarschal Goering to carry on a tradition begun in the First World War.

If I run across any specific references, I will let you know.

Tom