G005356 TWO PLACE MEDAL BAR. (Groß Ordensschnalle) A medal bar, approximately 3" across, from which hangs a 1914 Iron Cross, second class, and the Combatant’s Cross of Honor 1914/18 (distinguished from the non-combatant version by its crossed swords). The order of the Iron Cross was founded by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia, after the "Freidenskrieg," or war of liberation from Napoleon, in 1813. It was to be an award for gallantry conferred only in time of war, and open to all soldiers, regardless of rank or social status. The Iron Cross was re-instituted at the commencement of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, the First World War in 1914, and the Second World War in 1939. In each of the three latter cases, the original institution date may be seen to the lower reverse arm of the cross, and the specific re-institution date to its lower obverse arm. It is in the form of a 1 11/16" square, "cross Patté," which features, to its obverse, a "W" (for Wilhelm) to its center, beneath a Prussian crown and above the date, "1914." The reverse has a spray of three oak leaves to its center, beneath a Prussian crown with "FW" (for Friedrich Wilhelm III - the originator of the Iron Cross) beneath it, and above the original institution date, "1813." The magnetic iron core has retained almost all of its original black finish, with light soiling along its edges, but almost no wear to its highlights. Its silver frame is typically age tarnished, but could shine up if desired. Although its suspension ring is included, it is hidden between the ribbon and its padding. The Combatant’s Cross of Honor was instituted in July of 1934 by von Hindenburg (resulting in its erroneous designation as the "Hindenburg Cross") to recognize service in WWI. It ranked beneath bravery awards but above other service and campaign awards. It is a 1 7/16" square, stamped steel award with a bronze wash, which takes the form of a cross Patté with a circular laurel leaf wreath to its center, encompassing the dates "1914" and "1918," and with swords emanating between the cross’s arms, indicating a combatant’s award. To the base of its otherwise plain reverse is stamped "W" within a square. It exhibits typical, light age darkening and soiling throughout. Each of their ribbons are approximately 1 1/8" wide, that for the Iron Cross being narrow black-white-wide black-white-narrow black, and that for the Cross of Honor being narrow black-white-black-red-black-white-narrow black. They are wrapped, after the "Parade" style, around a 2 7/8" x 1 1/2" brass plate, through whose reverse, red wool backing protrudes a horizontal pin-back device. Sewn to the backing beneath this brass device is a rectangular alloy plate with "J. Reimann," "Ordenshaus," and "Berlin W8 Friedrichstr. 188" printed to it. Both of the moire ribbons are lightly age soiled.

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