Description

Offered is an original German First World War Iron Cross 2nd Class, awarded for battlefield bravery.
Features a 42mm wide white metal cross pattée with magnetic core, with a blackened cross pattée within a hatched border imposed, suspension ring (‘CD’ stamped – Carl Dillenius, Pforzheim) for ribbon suspension; the face with a central ‘W’ (for Wilhelm), a crown above, the date ‘1914’ below; the reverse with a central oak branch, the crowned cipher ‘FW’ (for Friedrich Wilhelm) above, the date ‘1813’ below; on short length original WW1 era ribbon. Cross is in superb condition overall and retains the full length of original ribbon.

The Iron Cross was instituted on 10 March 1813 by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia during the War of Liberation against the Napoleonic French forces. It was reinstated in 1870-1871 for the Franco-Prussian War and again in 1914 for World War I. It is awarded for bravery. In spite of its iconic image and fame, it has always been made of modest materials and issued in relatively large numbers. It was designed by the neo-classical architect Karl Friedrich Schinkel and reflects the cross of the Teutonic Knights in the late Middle Ages which was also the emblem of Frederick the Great.