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Summer 2022 Militaria Auction
Lot 239:
Iron Cross 2nd Class, 1939 + Owner Photo
Iron Cross 2nd Class, 1939 (Eisernes Kreuz II Klasse).
On March 10th 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 Cross were reinstituted by King Wilhelm I on July 19th1870 for award during the Franco-Prussian War and again on August 5th 1914, by King Wilhelm II for award during WWI.
On September 1st 1939 Hitler once more reinstituted the Iron Cross series of awards in the First and Second Classes and established the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross.
The second class medal was for award to personnel who performed a single act of bravery in combat.
1939 pattern, die struck, three piece, iron and alloy construction cross with a single piece iron core and a two piece alloy frame.
The obverse features an embossed, high relief, central, canted, swastika with the re-institution date, "
1939", to the bottom arm.
The reverse bottom arm has the embossed original institution date, "
1813".
The swastika is in nice high relief while the dates are somewhat lower.
The medal loop and ribbon suspension ring are both intact.
The cross comes complete with of original ribbed rayon ribbon.
Material frame / core: nickel silver / iron
Height: 44mm
Width: 44mm
Weight: 18 g (no ribbon)
Material band ring / eyelet: nickel silver wire
Comments: No Stamped manufacturer’s mark.
Photograph of a Luftwaffe soldier , owner Iron Cross with an inscription on the back
"
Zur frendliche Erinerung von Deine famil: Viktor" ("As a friendly reminder to your family: Viktor")
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