Iron Cross Symbol - History, Meaning, and Usage #3480391 (License: Personal Use)

This image displays a solid black Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz), a cross pattée design originally established in 1813 by King Frederick William III of Prussia to honor bravery in wartime. The symbol has since evolved through multiple iterations, notably used in both World Wars, and remains a recognized emblem in military history, heraldry, and popular culture-though often subject to careful contextual interpretation today.

Used on educational, historical, or military-themed websites; museum exhibits; and cultural analysis pages. Matches user intent for researching European military symbols, heraldic designs, or WWII iconography-often sought by students, historians, or designers needing accurate visual references.