Item:
ONSV22WON225

Original German WWII Navy Kriegsmarine Brass Core Iron Cross First Class 1939 by Ferdinand Hoffstätter - EKI

Item Description

Original Items: Only One Available. This an excellent example of a WWII Iron Cross First Class 1939, with a non-magnetic brass core, flat design, and straight pin attachment. The brass core examples are less often seen than the steel core, and were usually issued to members of the Kriegsmarine (Navy), as the brass alloy was much more resistance to the corrosion caused by ocean air.

It is maker marked with rare LDO number L/19 on the back under the pin catch, which represents Ferdinand Hoffstätter of Bonn am Rhein. The The LDO, (Leistungs Gemeinschaft der Deutscher Ordenshersteller - Administration of German orders Manufacturers), was a self-governing organization formed in 1941 which regulated the manufacturing of all German awards. The firm Ferdinand Hoffstätter was a fully licensed in the organization, entry number 19.

The medal is in excellent condition, with the silver still bright with just a bit of light tarnish on the upper arm and corners. The black paint on the cross is very good, showing only light crazing and checking due to age. There is just a bit of wear through on the raised areas of the center, showing a bit of the brass core material. The award a lovely light tarnished patina on the silver areas, showing it is indeed genuine silver. The pinback attachment is fully functional, and looks great!

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.

Please 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.

A fantastic example, most likely issued to the Kriegsmarine Navy. Ready to add to your WW2 medal collection!

The Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz, abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (1871–1918) and NSDAP Germany (1933–1945). It was established by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia in March 1813 backdated to the birthday of his late wife Queen Louise on 10 March 1813 during the Napoleonic Wars (EK 1813). Louise was the first person to receive this decoration (posthumous). The recommissioned Iron Cross was also awarded during the Franco-Prussian War (EK 1870), World War I (EK 1914), and World War II (EK 1939, re-introduced with a swas added in the center).

The Iron Cross was normally a military decoration only, though there were instances of it being awarded to civilians for performing military functions. Two examples of this were civilian test pilots Hanna Reitsch who was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class and 1st Class and Melitta Schenk Gräfin von Stauffenberg, who was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class, for their actions as pilots during World War II.

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