Prussia declares war on France and institutes the Iron Cross

Background. Frederick William III ruled Prussia during the Napoleonic Wars. Although Prussia had kept out of the Third Coalition in 1805, the king was eventually swayed by the attitude of Queen Louise, who led Prussia's pro-war party, and Prussia entered the war in October 1806. In 1813, following Napoleon's defeat in Russia and pressured by the Convention of Tauroggen, Frederick William turned against France and signed an alliance with Russia at Kalisz. He reluctantly joined the Sixth Coalition against Napoleon in the German campaign of 1813.

Establishment of the Iron Cross. King Frederick William III established the Iron Cross on 17 March 1813. The design, derived from the Teutonic Order, was commissioned as the first military decoration open to all ranks, including enlisted men. The award was backdated to 10 March, the birthday of his late wife Queen Louise, who was the first recipient posthumously. The decoration featured the initials 'FW' for the king.

Implementation and Early Awards. The Iron Cross was established during the German Campaign of 1813. The first actual award was given to Karl August Ferdinand von Borcke on 21 April 1813. By order of 1 June 1813, the second form was created in cast iron with silver borders, designed to be fixed to the left uniform breast. The ribbon was black with two thin white bands, reflecting Prussian colors.