BACKGROUND: The War Merit Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on October 18^TH 1939, in two classes with both classes issued, with and without swords, for award to military personnel and civilians, including females and foreigners, for exemplary service and/or bravery in Germany’s war effort, in a non-combatant role. The addition of swords to the award signified bravery while awards without swords were bestowed for service. Of Note: The War Merit cross series of awards was expanded on August 19^TH 1940, to include a Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross for award to personnel who had provided a substantial contribution to the war effort and the War Merit Medal for award to German nationals and foreign civilians who provided exceptional service to the war effort.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Early, nice quality, die struck alloy construction, nickel/silver plated, award is in the form of a Maltese style cross with a circular centerpiece with an embossed, canted, swastika encircled by an oak-leave wreath to the obverse. The background field of the obverse centerpiece is smooth while the arms of the cross have a pebbled background field with raised, smooth, outer edges. The nickel/silver plated finish is retained about 85% with small spots of wear to the base alloy and the swastika and the raised smooth, outer edges of the crosses arms are all polished to a high sheen. The plain, reverse has a soldered, barrel type hinge inset into a rectangular recess, a broad, vertical tapered pin and a heavy, soldered, catch also inset into a rectangular recess all intact. The pin is well marked with the embossed manufacturer’s numerical code within a square recess, "4", indicating manufacture by Steinhauer & Lück of Lüdenscheid. The award comes housed in its original, roughly, 2 5/8" square, 3/4" thick, pressed cardboard and wood construction case with a black, simulated, grained, leather covering with a silvered likeness of the War Merit Cross without swords impressed into the top center. The fold back top lid has a magnetic, staggered, bar hinge to the reverse and a magnetic, spring activated, closure button to the obverse both intact. The interior of the case has a black flocking covering to the bottom with a slotted recess to secure the award in place and a white satin lining to the top lid. The case is in overall very good condition with minimal chafe wear to the exterior and light age toning to the interior linings.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $240.00