SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION

H039360 WAR MERIT CROSS 2ND CLASS, 1939 WITHOUT SWORDS. (Kriegsverdienstkreuz II ohne Schwerter)

BACKGROUND: The War Merit Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on October 18TH 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 19TH 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: Die struck alloy, construction service award with a bronze finish is in the form of a Maltese style cross with a circular centerpiece with an embossed, canted, swastika encircled by a nicely detailed oak-leaf wreath to the obverse. The reverse centerpiece has the embossed date,"1939", also encompassed by a nicely detailed oak-leaf wreath. The background field of both the obverse and reverse centerpieces is smooth while the arms of the cross have a pebbled background field with raised, smooth, outer edges. The ribbon suspension ring and medal loop are both intact and the suspension ring is well marked with the impressed manufacturer’s numerical code, "65", indicating manufacture by Klein & Quenzer of Idar/Oberstein. The cross comes complete with a roughly, 1 3/16" wide, 9 5/8" long, piece of original ribbed rayon ribbon. The ribbon is in overall good condition with minor age toning and a couple of small picks and pulls. The cross only retains about 45% of what appears to be a fired bronze finish with moderate to heavy age tarnish and spots of wear to the base alloy.

GRADE **3/4                             PRICE $60.00

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