Bar cross that was the symbol of German armed forces from 1935–1945
Various WWII styles of the Balkenkreuz; also see Luftwaffe for official specification versions
The Balkenkreuz (lit.'beam cross' or 'bar cross')[1]
is a straight-armed cross that was first introduced in 1916–1918 and later became the emblem of the Wehrmacht (German Armed Forces) and its branches from 1935 until the end of World War II. It was used by the Wehrmacht Heer (Army), Luftwaffe (Air Force), and Kriegsmarine (Navy).
^"Dictionary of Vexillology: B (Banner Roll - Bauceant)". Dictionary of Vexillology. FOTW Flags Of The World. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2012.; etymologizing "balk cross" in "Dictionary of Vexillology: B (Backing - Banner of Victory)". Dictionary of Vexillology. FOTW Flags Of The World. Retrieved 19 August 2012. Cf. the erroneous rendition as "Balkan Cross" in Cochrane, John; Elliott, Stuart (1998). Military Aircraft Insignia of the World. Naval Institute Press. p. 50. ISBN 155750542X.
The Balkenkreuz (lit. 'beam cross' or 'bar cross') is a straight-armed cross that was first introduced in 1916–1918 and later became the emblem of the...
Imperial German Army, and the Reichswehr of the Weimar Republic, while the Balkenkreuz (bar cross) variant was used by the Wehrmacht. The Iron Cross is now...
friendly forces recognize the aircraft. Bold black and white Iron Cross or Balkenkreuz markings provided a way to quickly identify the aircraft and at the same...
official, these markings were used by military aircraft, while the 1918 Balkenkreuz crosses were reintroduced. Two standardised proportions of the crosses...
those military aircraft insignia that are not round, like the Iron Cross-Balkenkreuz symbol of the Luftwaffe or the red star of the Russian Air Force.[citation...
Axis-sympathetic Croatian Air Force Legion in World War II, formed from a defaced Balkenkreuz Symmetrical trefoils are particularly popular as warning and informational...
national flags of the United Kingdom, of Norway and of Iceland. The German Balkenkreuz, introduced originally as identification for German Luftstreitkräfte...
and White Engagements Air war/aerial ramming over Germany, 7 April 1945 Insignia Roundel Balkenkreuz Aircraft flown Interceptor Messerschmitt Bf 109...
Hermann Göring Albert Kesselring Robert R. von Greim Insignia BalkenkreuzBalkenkreuz (alternate) Hakenkreuz Aircraft flown List of German WWII planes...
Lexington Books. ISBN 978-0-7391-0646-4. Wimmer-Lamquet, Franz (2005). Balkenkreuz und Halbmond: als Abwehroffizier in Afrika und im Vorderen Orient (in...
ensign of the Wehrmacht (1938–1945 version) Emblem of the Wehrmacht, the Balkenkreuz, a stylized version of the Iron Cross seen in varying proportions Motto...
with an armored N.K.A.V. mounted below the muffler and painted with a Balkenkreuz. Panzer III tank equipped with the N.K.A.V. Panzer III tank equipped...
it was conferred in four classes consisting of a white-enameled gold Balkenkreuz with Reich eagle and swastika. A "Medal of Social Welfare" was also issued...
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