Original Items: Only One Available. This is an excellent example of a German WWII German Cross (Deutsches Kreuz) in Gold award, issued as a cloth embroidered badge for use on the Heer (Army) uniform. The badge is approximately 2 7/8 inches (72mm) wide, and is hand embroidered, featuring a double, overlaid, eight point, sunburst pattern with the top, inner layer, sunburst in matte, brownish/grey, cotton threads, and the bottom, outer layer, in bright, silver aluminum wire threads. The cross has a gilt washed, circular, stamped alloy, wreath with embossed laurel leaves and “ribbons” and a small banner with the impressed introduction date, 1941 to the bottom center. The wreath is identical to the wreaths utilized on the metal crosses. Inner edge of the alloy wreath has a red thread border with an additional silver aluminum thread border to the outer edge. The wreath encompasses an embroidered mobile swas with a silver aluminum thread outer border on a white base. The cross is mounted on a cut-out, field-grey feldgrau wool base indicating a Heer (army) issue award.

This badge is in overall excellent condition, never worn (unissued) with minimal age toning and no moth damage we can see. The rear paper backing is also almost entirely intact, an even has the original paint maker stamp! Definitely the best heer example that we have ever seen.

The award was introduced on September 28th 1941, a few months after the start of operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. The German forces were achieving significant progress in the Eastern front. The assault on Moscow (Operation Typhoon) started two days after the German Cross on Gold award was instated. Plenty of soldiers would have the opportunity to prove themselves in the face of adverse conditions in years to come.

The award itself was given for bravery, much like the Iron cross, and level of bravery and service would have to be above that required by the Iron Cross First Class but less than that required by the Knights Cross. The awards were issued in several versions, both all metal and part cloth, and all had a multi-layer construction. The embroidered badges were colored differently on the border for the Heer (Army), Luftwaffe (Air Force), and Kriegsmarine (Navy), so that the background would match their uniform.

Really a high quality and hard to find award, sure to appreciate in value for years to come.