BACKGROUND: The War Order of the German Cross was introduced by Adolf Hitler on September 28TH 1941 in two classes of Gold and Silver. The Gold class Cross was awarded to military personnel for exceptional acts of bravery or achievement in combat while the Silver class was awarded for distinguished acts of service in the war effort. Criteria for bestowal of either Cross included that the recipient must first have been awarded the 1939 Iron Cross 1ST class or the 1939 Bar to the 1914 Iron Cross 1ST class. On introduction of the award a cloth version was also authorized for wear with the color of the base material indicating which branch of service the cross was awarded to with a field-grey base for award to Heer, (Army), and Waffen-SS, (Armed-SS), personnel, a black base for Panzer, (Armored), personnel, a blue/grey base for Luftwaffe, (Air-Force), personnel and a navy blue base for Kriegsmarine, (Navy), personnel. The German Cross was to be worn on the lower, right, breast of the service tunic and field blouse.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Five piece, slightly convexed, die struck, tombac and alloy construction badge with black and red enamel work. The cross features a double, overlaid, eight point, sunburst pattern with the top sunburst layer retaining about 80% of its original black finish. The bottom sunburst layer retains about 80% of its original silver finish with light to moderate age tarnish. The center of the sunburst pattern has a separate, roughly, 40mm diameter, silver washed, circular panel with a raised, canted, black enameled swastika encompassed by an embossed, gilt washed, circular, stamped alloy, laurel leaf wreath with the impressed introduction date, "1941", to the bottom on a red enamel base. The red enamel base is visible as a fine outline to either side of the wreath. The central, circular, base retains about 85% of its silver wash while the gilt wash to the laurel leaf wreath is retained about 80% with small spots of wear to the base alloy. The swastika has taken a big hit at some point, retaining roughly 55% to 60% of it black enamel. Reverse features four dome headed retaining rivets. Soldered barrel type hinge on a rounded corner rectangular base plate, heavy broad tapered pin and heavy soldered catch all intact. Reverse of pin with deeply impressed manufacturer's numerical code, "1", indicating manufacture by Deschler & Sohn.