Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII German Cross in Gold, or Deutsches Kreuz in Gold, produced as an embroidered cloth badge for wear on the Heer uniform. This example is a uniform cutoff with surviving black wool around the embroidered body, indicating use on a Panzer or other black Heer uniform, and it retains clear evidence of previous stitching and extended wear.

The badge measures approximately 2 1/2" across and is hand embroidered in the characteristic double overlaid eight point sunburst pattern. The upper inner layer is worked in matte brownish gray cotton thread, while the larger outer sunburst is embroidered in bright silver aluminum wire.

At the center is a gilt washed stamped alloy wreath with embossed laurel leaves, ribbon details, and the impressed introduction date:

1941

The gilt wreath is bordered on the inside by red thread and on the outside by silver aluminum thread. Within it is an embroidered hook cross on a white field with a silver aluminum thread border.

The badge is mounted on a cut black fabric base, with only traces of the original black upper wool layer remaining around the embroidery. Stitch holes and wear around the edge are consistent with removal from a uniform.

The reverse retains portions of the original black paper backing used to protect the embroidery, along with a separate beige oval paper reinforcement piece that protects the prongs of the wreath. The beige piece is now detached and retains some fragments of the black backing paper.

Condition is very good for a service used uniform cutoff. The gilt wreath shows plating wear and areas of verdigris, while the embroidery and backing show fading, staining, edge wear, and loss of much of the surrounding black wool. Despite this, the central design remains strong and well defined.

With its hand embroidered silver aluminum wire sunburst, gilt 1941 dated wreath, surviving black uniform cloth, and clear uniform removal evidence, this is a strong example of a German Cross in Gold cloth badge intended for wear on a black Heer uniform. The loss of surrounding wool, stitch holes, paper backing separation, wreath wear, verdigris, fading, and staining are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in a Heer Panzer insignia, German Cross award, uniform cutoff, cloth decoration, or advanced German WWII awards collection.

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.