All type of Nazi Military Medal Hierarchy of WW II Explained

Nazi Germany’s military awards were not just medals — they were a carefully constructed hierarchy designed to measure loyalty, sacrifice, and power in total war.

In this video, we break down the full Nazi military medal hierarchy of World War II, from the most overlooked decorations awarded to factory workers and logisticians, all the way up to the rarest and most controversial honor of the entire regime.

You’ll learn how medals like the War Merit Medal and War Merit Cross revealed the importance of the home front, why the Wound Badge and Combat Badges carried immense respect among soldiers, and how brutal decorations like the Close Combat Clasp reflected the reality of face-to-face fighting on the Eastern Front.

We also explore the meaning behind iconic awards such as the Iron Cross, the German Cross, and the Knight’s Cross, before reaching the very top of the system — the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross, awarded only once during the war.

More than symbols of bravery, these medals expose how Nazi Germany defined value, heroism, and authority in a conflict that consumed millions of lives.

This is not a glorification — it’s an explanation of how a regime used honors to motivate, control, and remember a war fought on an industrial scale.

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