Original Item: One of a Kind. This is a very nice Imperial German WWI Textured steel Cigar case, with a wonderful mini Iron Cross 1914 device attached to the lid. There are no maker markings that we can see, but it definitely features high quality German construction. It is designed to hold three regular sized cigars, and has capture markings on the interior.

There are capture markings faintly written on the interior:

(FIRST NAME) D. HILL
SOUVENIR
BONN. GERMANY
DEC 26/18

This was certainly taken from a German soldier by an American soldier with the Army of Occupation which occupied Germany after the armistice. The first name appears to start with B and end with W, but of this we aren’t certain. This would make for a fantastic research project!

The case measures 5½ x 3 x ⅝”. It closes via a spring on the hinge as shown. A wonderful piece of Imperial German WWI Militaria!

There is no more iconic German military award than the Iron Cross. Established by Frederick William in 1813 for gallantry in action, the Eisernes Kreuz (EK) decoration was revived several times for later conflicts. The bulk of the issues are divided into 1st and 2nd class versions, but a rare and superior 'Grand Cross' was also awarded for successful field commanders. During WW1 the lower decoration was freely awarded with 5½ million second class types issued. Originally, the Iron Cross was an award of the Kingdom of Prussia, however given Prussia's pre-eminent place in the German Empire formed in 1871, it became an award for all of Germany.