Original Items: Only One Set Available. This is a very nice collection of German WWI - WWII Insignia, Tinnies, and Awards, 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 wide variety of items, including:

- One German WWII War Merit Cross 2nd Class (Kriegsverdienstkreuz II Klasse) with ribbon. The medal is the version without swords, issued for service not connected to combat. The original bronze wash is in great shape with a lovely lightly oxidized color, and the ribbon is in great shape, correctly installed inside the hanger ring. The award itself is maker marked on the hanger ring with Präsidialkanzlei des Führers Lieferant (Presidential Chancellery Supplier) number 60 on the hanger ring, which represents Katz & Deyle of Pforzheim.

- One German WWII Luftwaffe Visor Cap Plated Zinc Eagle, maker marked on the back with F L L in Circles, the trademark logo of Friedrich Linden of Lüdenscheid. Both brass prongs are still present, though the swas at the bottom is bent.

- SEVEN German WWII Era Tinnie Event Badges, including a TAG DER ARBEIT 1934 Labor Day tinnie, a 1. MAI May Day tinnies from 1936 and 1937, a REICHSPARTEITAG 1938 Nuremberg Rally tinnie, and many others.

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

"Tinnies" (Veranstaltungsabzeichen - Event Badge) are small commemorative pins or medals, acquired when one attended a specific event held in Germany. They were often made of thin stamped metal, bakelite, or even pressed paper. Many of these were given out as part of the WHW (Winterhilfswerk - Winter Help Work) Organization, which often involved Germans traveling quite a bit to help out the war effort.

War Merit Cross (Kriegsverdienstkreuz) with Swords (for Combat)
This was a decoration of NSDAP Germany during the Second World War, which could be awarded to military personnel and civilians alike. By the end of the war it was issued in four degrees, and had a related civil decoration. It was created by Adolf AH in October 1939 as a successor to the non-combatant Iron Cross which was used in earlier wars. The award was graded the same as the Iron Cross: War Merit Cross Second Class, War Merit Cross First Class, and Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross. The award had two variants: with swords given to soldiers for exceptional service "not in direct connection with combat", and without swords for meritorious service to civilians in "furtherance of the war effort". As with the Iron Cross, Recipients had to have the lower grade of the award before getting the next level.