WW2 MADE WW1 GERMAN IRON CROSS 2ND CLASS MEDAL FOR COMBAT GALLANTRY

Description

Offered is an original, near mint 1940’s made WW1 German Iron Cross 2nd Class.

42 mm wide white metal cross pattée with magnetic core, with a blackened cross pattée within a silver washed hatched border imposed, with loop and ring for ribbon suspension, the ring being non maker marked; 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 original ribbon. This is a classic 1940’s WW2 era made cross for veterans, being of superior quality finish and non marked to ring. These crosses match the WW2 awarded crosses dimensions almost exactly, with these being made for those WW1 veterans who wore these whilst in service between 1939 & 1945, many of whom were senior officer’s and General Officer’s.

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.