BACKGROUND: On March 10^TH 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 reinstituted by King Wilhelm I on July 19^TH 1870 for award during the Franco-Prussian War and again on August 5^TH 1914, by King Wilhelm II for award during WWI. On September 1^ST 1939 Hitler once more reinstituted 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 second class.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: 1939 pattern, die struck, three piece, brass and nickel/silver plated alloy construction Pattée style cross with a single piece brass 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 stands out in nice, high relief while the date is somewhat lower. The non-magnetic center retains about 65% of its original black wash with spots of wear to the base brass and the swastika and date have reverted to the base brass making then stand out in strong contrast. The nickel/silver plated alloy frame shows light to moderate age tarnish. The cross has a fair sized dent to the top arm which has resulted in the two piece frame having started to separate. The plain reverse has a solid, soldered block type hinge, a broad, tapering vertical pin and a heavy soldered catch all intact. The catch is slightly bent but still functions. The cross has no visible manufacturer’s markings. The cross comes housed in a roughly, 2 1/2" square, 3/4" thick, wood and pressed cardboard construction issue case with a simulated, black leather covering. The top of the case has an impressed, silvered outline of an Iron Cross to the center. The fold back top lid has a magnetic, staggered, bar hinge to the reverse and a magnetic, spring loaded, closure button to the obverse. Both the hinge and the closure button show moderate surface spotting but still function. The interior of the top lid is lined in white satin while the interior bottom of the case has a white flock lining with a vertical cut-out to secure the hinge, pin and catch assembly of the badge. The case is in overall very good condition with minimal chafe wear to the exterior and minor yellowing to the interior linings. Seldom encountered, brass core Iron Cross. Of Note: A photographic example of a brass cored Iron Cross can be viewed in S. T. Previtera’s book, The Iron Time A History of the Iron Cross on page 250.

GRADE ***                                 PRICE $816.00