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The Iron Cross 2nd Class for this young grenadier from the 12th SS-Hitlerjugend. He is wearing an Italian pattern camouflage cap and distinctive camouflaged smock of the SS. Unlike Allied forces which typically awarded Bronze stars for NCOs and Silver Stars for officers the German award system was fair and recognized bravery despite rank based on the principle of Gemeinsamschaft, or shared experience. The German military also believed in promoting officers from within the enlisted ranks .
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