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War Awards to Be Named After Hitler

August 23, 1934
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The cross of honor to be awarded to all those who fought in the German armies during the World War, one of the last decrees signed by the late President Paul von Hindenburg, will be named the Hitler Cross and not Hindenburg Cross as originally planned, the Nazi government announced today.

Thus about 100,000 German Jews who served in the German armies will either be deprived of the medal, since the dead president and the Chancellor clashed on the issue of the awards to Jewish war veterans, or they will be compelled to wear the Hitler Cross, which is regarded as highly improbable.

Chancellor Hitler, it was announced, objected to the cross being given to Jewish war veterans, but the aged Field Marshal decided over his protest to award the cross to all World War veterans, irrespective of faith. The measure was regarded as a rebuke to the anti-Semitic policies of the Nazi leader.

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