Original Items: Only One Set Available. This is a very nice collection of German WWI & WWII Awards and Insignia, which was brought back from the European theater by a USGI after the war was concluded. Many solders traded these on the way back, and would end up with a pocket full of various different collectible items, and this set represents the typical "haul" one might have come back with. It includes a nice WWI Iron Cross 1914 Second class, a Hindenburg Cross, as well as additional awards and insignia from the WWII period.

This lovely set includes:

- One Imperial German WWI Iron Cross 1914 2nd Class Medal (Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse 1918), with short ribbon. The original hanger ring is missing, and the ribbon is stitched directly to the bolster for the ring. There is some loss of the core paint and light oxidation, but the silver is still present, still mostly bright.

- One Imperial German WWI Iron Cross 1914 2nd Class Ribbon Bar Pin (Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse 1918). The pin attachment on the back is still functional.

- One Imperial German WWI Prussian 25 Year Long Service Award.

- One Pre-WWII German WWI Honor Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (Hindenburg Cross) Medal with Swords (for Combat) with ribbon. This example is in very good condition, and the ribbon has a lovely lightly aged look. It is marked on the back with G 3.

- One German WWII DRK Red Cross Medal for Social Welfare without ribbon. The medal is in good condition, showing an oxidized patina, and still retains the hanger ring.

- One German WWII 3rd Class Black Wound Badge (Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz). This is wartime stamped steel example of the black wound badge, still has almost all of the original black finish, an and intact pin catch. These were awarded for 1 or 2 wounds during service. It is maker marked with LDO number L/56 on the back under the pin hinge, which represents Funcke & Brüninghaus of Lüdenscheid.

- One German WWII Kriegsmarine Navy Embroidered Marineartillerie Laufbahnabzeichen Coastal Artillery Specialty Trade Badge, navy blue uniform version. This features a navy blue backing with carmine red embroidered insignia, and there is backing fabric still present on the badge. 

- One German WWII Kriegsmarine Navy Mechanikergefreite Mine Mechanic Embroidered Enlisted Ratings Badge, white uniform version. This was for a general enlisted sailor, who was on the Bootsmann (Boatswain) career path. This features a white backing with navy blue embroidered insignia. The design shows a sea mine with a cog wheel behind.

- One German WWII Luftwaffe Air Force Obergefreiter Sleeve Chevrons. These are the correct silver tresse and have a blue gray Fliegerblau (Flyer's Blue) background. This rank roughly corresponds to a U.S. Army Corporal. The badge definitely looks to be a uniform cutoff, and shows wear from service.

- One German WWII Kriegsmarine BeVO Embroidered Breast Eagle. It has the correct gold yellow thread on a navy blue backing, and has not been installed on a uniform. Shows just a bit of fraying at the ends.

- One German WWII Luftwaffe Embroidered Eagle Badge for Overseas and Field Caps

A wonderful totally genuine grouping perfect for the German Medal and Insignia collector. Ready to research and display!

More information on some of the awards in this set:

German WWI Prussian Iron Cross 2nd Class:
Established by Frederick William in 1813 for gallantry in action, the decoration was revived several times for later conflicts. The bulk of the issues are divided into 1st and 2nd class versions, but a rare and superior 'Grand Cross' was also awarded for successful field commanders. During WW1 the lower decoration was freely awarded with 5½ million second class types issued. Originally, the Iron Cross was an award of the Kingdom of Prussia, however given Prussia's pre-eminent place in the German Empire formed in 1871, it became an award for all of Germany.

The basic design of the WW1 crosses is a central Tatzenkreuz (cross pattée) struck from iron and mounted in a silver frame which has a raised crenulated decorative border. The obverse of the cross bears the date 1914 under a crowned 'W' monogram. Reverse bears an oak leaf cluster with the date of the decoration’s institution, 1813 underneath - the crowned initials of Frederick William are in the top arm above the oak leaf cluster. Suspension for second-class types is by means of a ring, and frequently this ring bears a maker's stamp.

Please examine the edge seam for authentication, which is not present on reproductions. Iron crosses were commonly constructed from an iron core sandwiched in a surrounding two part silver frame, normally the seam of these two silver parts is visible around the edge of the cross as is seen on this fine example.

Hindenburg Cross with Crossed Swords (for combat):
The Honor Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (German: Das Ehrenkreuz des Weltkriegs 1914/1918), commonly, but incorrectly, known as the Hindenburg Cross was established by Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, President of the German Republic, by an order dated 13 July 1934, to commemorate the distinguished deeds of the German people during the First World War. This was Germany's first official service medal for soldiers of Imperial Germany who had taken part in the war, and where they had since died it was also awarded to their surviving next-of-kin. Shortly after its issuance, the government of NSDAP Germany declared the award as the only official service decoration of the First World War and further forbid the continued wearing of German Free Corps awards on any military or paramilitary uniform of a state or NSDAP Party organization.

The Social Welfare Decoration (German: Ehrenzeichen für deutsche Volkspflege) was a German Civil Award created by Adolf AH on 1 May 1939 for services in the social sector. The decoration was issued in three classes and was awarded for a wide variety of service, in the social sector, to the German state. Qualifying service would have been with Winterhilfswerk, National Socialist People's Welfare, medical and rescue work, or care of foreign and ethnic Germans. As a replacement for the German Red Cross Decoration, it was conferred in four classes consisting of a white-enameled gold Balkenkreuz with Reich eagle and swas. A "Medal for Social Welfare" was also issued for lesser degrees of service, not warranting the higher presentation of a class award.

The main requirement for the award was that the service rendered should be to the benefit of the civil population. Reinhard Heydrich was awarded the decoration for his running of the Gestapo in the 1930s and for providing "security" to the German people. The infamous Doctor Josef Mengele was also awarded the decoration in 1941, for providing medical services to wounded soldiers and civilians alike on the battlefields of the Eastern Front.