SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION
SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION
H061266 BOXED & CASED IRON CROSS 1ST CLASS, 1939.
(Eisernes Kreuz I Klasse mit Schachtel und Etui)BACKGROUND: On March 10TH 1813, Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III established the Iron Cross as a temporary award for bestowal during times of war. Originally the Iron Cross was introduced in three grades with a Grand Cross intended for award to Senior Commanders for successfully leading troops in combat and the First and Second classes for award to all ranks for bravery or merit in action. The Iron Crosses were re-instituted by King Wilhelm I on July 19TH 1870 for award during the Franco-Prussian War and again on August 5TH 1914 by King Wilhelm II for award during WWI. On September 1ST 1939 Hitler once more re-instituted the Iron Cross series of awards in the First and Second Classes and established the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. The first class medal was for award to personnel who performed three to five acts of bravery in combat, and had already been awarded the Iron Cross 2ND class.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Die struck, three piece, iron and alloy construction 1939 pattern, Patté style cross with a single piece iron core and a two piece alloy frame. The obverse of the award features an embossed, central, canted swastika with the re-institution date, "1939", to the bottom arm. The swastika is in nice high relief while the date is somewhat lower. The plain reverse has a solid, soldered hinge, a broad, tapered, vertical pin and a heavy soldered catch all intact. The reverse of the pin is well marked with stamped manufacturer's numerical code, "20", indicating manufacture by C. F. Zimmermann, Pforzheim. The cross comes housed in a standard cardboard and wood construction issue case with a simulated, black, grained leather covering. The top of the case has the impressed, silvered, outline of an Iron Cross to the center. The case has a magnetic, staggered bar hinge to the reverse and a magnetic, locking, push button to the obverse. The interior of the case has a white flocking covering to the bottom with a slotted recess to hold the award in place and the interior of the top lid is lined in white satin. The case is in overall very good condition with minimal chafe wear to the exterior and light age yellowing to the interior linings. The issue case comes in a roughly natural tan, protective cardboard box with black printed script to the top which includes the award designation, "Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse 1939", and, "Nur vom Empfänger zu Öffen", (Only to be opened by recipient). One side of box also has black printed script, "C. F. Zimmermann Ordenfabrik Pforzheim". Each end of the box has folded in lids to secure it in the closed position (One has now torn off but is still included. The box has a fairly large blackish stain and about a half dozen small rips and tears with one having a post-war tape repair.
GRADE *** 3/4 PRICE $830.00
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