Original Items: Only One Available. This is a relic condition example of a cased WWII Iron Cross First Class 1939, with a Magnetic core, flat design, and straight pin attachment. Both the award and original case are in almost "battlefield pickup" condition, looking to have been exposed to the elements for some amount of time. The original leatherette case is squashed and in two pieces, and the iron cross itself shows rust over the entire central iron cross, while the silver frame still remains bright, even on the reverse.

The award and original case have been placed inside a larger clamshell case, measuring about 3 1/2" by 3 1/2", which also shows some degradation from age and storage. We unfortunately do not know what the story is behind the award and how it came to be in this condition.

In spite of the condition, we can still see that it is maker marked with LDO number L/11 on the back of the pin catch, which represents Wilhelm Deumer of Lüdenscheid. 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 Wilhelm Deumer was fully licensed in the organization, entry number 11.

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 example.

A very interesting relic condition example by a desirable maker, 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.