Original Item: Only One Available. This is an lovely example of a German WWII Iron Cross 2nd Class 1939 (Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse 1939) by desirable maker Anton Schenkls Nachfolger, with an original rayon red, black, and white ribbon. Also included is the original besittzzeugnis "possession/award" certificate, which indicates that the recipient was given the award during the Battle of Narvik during the Norwegian campaign!

The award document indicates that it was awarded to Obermaschinenmaat Anton M a i e r, a member of the Kriegsmarine with a rank of "Senior Machinist's Mate", a Machinist holding a rank equivalent to a U.S. Navy Petty Officer, 2nd Class. There is no unit listed, however the location the award conferred is listed as Hundalen, and it was awarded on 15. Mai 1940. Research indicates "Hundalen" is a stop on the rail line that brings ore to the port of Narvik, and it was key to keeping the supply of ore flowing. The document has a stamp in the lower left corner for the Kriegsmarine Dienstfegelnamt „Helgoland“ (Service Office Heligoland), and the lower right is signed by the Fregattenkapitän und Kommandeur des Marineregiments Narvik (Frigate Captain and Commander of the Narvik Naval Regiment). We are not able to make out the signature, but future research may be able to identify who signed the paper.

The document has all the correct stamps and markings, and measures about 7 3/4" x 5 1/2", (about 20cm x 14cm), printed on heavy-weight paper with black print and typed in particulars. It is in good condition, showing light staining, and unlike most we see was not folded in half at any point.

The Iron Cross itself is a very nice example with crisp beading, and the silvering to the frame has a lovely tarnished patina and looks great! The matte black core paint on the iron center on both sides is in very good shape, showing wear on the swas, but not much else. The original ribbon is properly threaded through the hanger ring, and shows light wear and staining from age and use. The hanger loop is also marked with Präsidialkanzlei des Führers Lieferant (Presidential Chancellery Supplier) number 27, which represents maker Anton Schenkls Nachfolger (Successor) in Vienna, Austria. Most EKIIs we see are unmarked, so this is a real treat!

Please also note 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.

The basic design of the WWII 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 1939 under a "mobile" swas. Second class crosses would have a ring at the top where a ring was attached, and had more markings on the back. The first class award, however, was meant to attach directly to the front of the uniform.

A lovely example of the most iconic of all German awards, complete with an original award document from the Battle of Narvik, ready to research and display!

There is no more iconic German military award than the Iron Cross. The long history of this order began during the Napoleonic Wars. King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia instituted the “Eisernes Kreuz” (Iron Cross) in March of 1813. The award criteria changed somewhat with time, but generally speaking, Iron Crosses could be awarded for individual acts of bravery, or for leadership achievements on the battlefield. The design was created by a Karl Friedrich Schinkel, his choice of the black cross with silver outline was derived from the heraldic emblem of the Teutonic Knights. This central Tatzenkreuz (cross pattée) struck from iron and mounted in a silver frame which has a raised crenulated decorative border.

There were a number of different type and grades of Iron Cross awards throughout its long history, but the basic details of the most widely awarded grades: The Iron Cross 1st Class and Iron Cross 2nd Class- remained the same. The first class award was a breast badge, with fittings on the reverse to allow it to be worn on the uniform. These fittings varied widely over time and from maker to maker, and could be a simple in and catch, a screw post and retaining disc, or more elaborate setups. The second class award was suspended from a ribbon, originally in the Prussian colors of black and white, later in the Reich colors of black, red and white.

On the original versions of these crosses, in 1813, the front of the iron core of each grade was bare, and only the second class award had ornamentation: a crown over the initials “FW” representing the King, a sprig of oak leaves, and the date 1813. The core was redesigned in 1870, when the cross was re-instituted during the Franco-Prussian War. The reverse ornamentation on the Iron Cross 2nd Class remained the same, but the front of the core on both grades now bore another crown, a “W” representing Kaiser Wilhelm, and the date 1870. This pattern repeated again when the cross was reinstituted for WWI- everything stayed the same, only the date 1870 was replaced with 1914.

The final reinstitution of the cross came in 1939. For this version, the front of the core for both grades bore a swas and the date 1939. The oak leaves, crown and royal initials were removed from the reverse, with only the date 1813 remaining as a reminder of the legacy of this award. In WWII, hundreds of thousands of Iron Cross First Class awards were bestowed, and four and a half million Iron Cross Second Class awards. Iron Crosses were made by a large number of authorized manufacturers. Some variants of these awards were mass produced in huge numbers. Others were made in very limited quantities.