Iron Cross

Iron Cross is the UK’s only magazine of German military history from the First World War to the end of the Second World War. Covering all aspects of German military history including the Imperial German forces of the Great War, the Weimar period and the Nazi period. Iron Cross prides itself on the highest quality production with stunning content in the unique and ground-breaking features, often revealing untold stories and publishing photographs that have never been seen before. Iron Cross features specially commissioned and innovative artwork in all issues.

Iron Cross

Editorial

CONTRIBUTORS • Introducing you to some of our main contributors for this issue:-

Seenotdienst • Maximilian Meindl provides a detailed theatre-by-theatre history of the Luftwaffe’s often overlooked air-sea rescue (ASR) force, the Seenotdienst. In action throughout the Second World War, it was equipped with a varied fleet of multi-engined flying boats and waterborne craft.

THE SANIS OF THE SEENOTDIENST

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Gunther Plüschow and the Siege of Tsingtao • During the 1914 Siege of Tsingtao, Gunther Plüschow became the first pilot to engage in aerial combat with another aeroplane. Later, he was the only member of the German military to successfully escape from Britain in either World War. Graham Rumney details his extraordinary career.

Battle of the Falkland Islands • Following the unexpected defeat at the Battle of Coronel on 1 November 1914, the Royal Navy sought swift revenge against the Imperial German Navy’s cruiser squadron that had sunk two of its armoured cruisers, with heavy loss of life. Just five weeks later, success at the Battle of the Falkland Islands emphatically restored the pride of the Senior Service. Chris Sams details the one-sided clash in the South Atlantic.

BOOKS & PRODUCTS

Arctic Ace

Jagdflieger of Jasta 17 • Among aviation historians who have studied the aerial engagements of the First World War, the name of Leutnant der Reserve Alfred Fleischer is comparatively unknown. He achieved ‘only’ six confirmed victories and never commanded a famous unit. Nonetheless, as Greg VanWyngarden relates here, his story deserves to be told, in no small measure due to the remarkable friendship he would form with one of his defeated foes.

‘Rommel’s Funnies’ • During the Second World War, Germany used two open-top self-propelled artillery howitzers that were armed with a 15 cm schweres Infanteriegeschütz (sIG) 33 weapon. One used the hull of a Panzer II and other a Panzer III. As Craig Moore explains, they were built exclusively for service with the Africa Korps.

Contact! • THE WORLD WAR I AVIATION MAGAZINE

A Lucky Charm • In our occasional series covering conflict archaeology, Consultant Editor Andy Saunders examines the case of Unteroffizier Fritz Buchner, a Bf 109E pilot who was shot down over England on 26 August 1940 and remained missing in action until 1984. A lucky charm helped unravel the mystery of the German airman’s identity.

Double Works Better • By the sixth year of the Second World War, the resources of the German Reich had become scarce. How practical it would be to fire two bullets with one cartridge. This idea proved to be of great interest to the Waffen-SS, as Michael Heidler explains.

Victor and Vanquished

Sturmabteilung Koch • In the first instalment of a two-part feature detailing the daring seizure of Fort Ében-Émael in Belgium on 10–11 May 1940, Dr Niklas Napp examines the paratroopers’ target and the planning and training undertaken by the Fallschirmjäger’s Sturmabteilung Koch in preparation for the raid.

Next Issue • The next issue of Iron Cross will be on sale from 25 March 2026, and the following features will be included as...