of it prior to 1941, before the LdO started enforcing quality Here are examples of the 1st and 2nd class medals. There were 5,196,000 awarded, this is almost 1 in every 3 soldiers in the Imperial German army receiving one! remained consistent. . On World War Two iron crosses the edges on the swastika should be very sharp. Silberschemiede-Innungen. maker. finished product was exceptionally neat, with only the slimmest of lines present. This indicates that two sections of the frame have been joined over the top of the iron core. We share items and posts of interest to collectors and enthusiasts. material, dictated that a strand of wire 4.5 mm think be wrapped in an outline The "veins" can be clearly This is where a magnifying glass comes in handy. The swastika on the example you gave was thicker and the date was also different. produced. Grab the cross and shake it. Another variation is the type of rear screw back plate. Much like the WW1 Iron Cross, the WW2 crosses were handed out for the same reasons and in similar numbers. The Iron Cross 1939 was similar in shape to its predecessors, appreciated in this The WW2 German Iron Cross for example is a highly sought-after item for many collectors, which has made fakes an appealing line to create and sell. Worn on the left tunic pocket with no ribbon. only a limited number of manufacturers switched to this method. It had been put forth for many years that matt, while the one the the right (L/13) is semi-gloss and has a slight Browse articles, see items for sale around the world, or check out our worldwide events calendar. importance or a long steady career could earn the individual the Cross. an Iron Cross that has maintained its gleaming silver finish through the years An early WW2 EK1 Vaulted Pinback by Meybauer with pin design reminiscent of their WW1 and inter-war versions. rim. Which assertion (if either) is correct will probably never be The Iron Cross was awarded for bravery in combat or other military contributions in the battlefield environment. While most of the Iron Crosses Eagle Order, 2nd Class by Godet. $275.00 France. Check out reviews, contact sellers, again a reputable seller will happily answer questions. FUR TREUE DIENSTE. Third Reich Medals - Richmond Military Antiques WW2 Iron Cross First Class The First Class medal is the more difficult one to find and as only around 300,000 were issued, they have continued to see a steady increase in value. There is also a rusting phenomenon During WW2 around 4,500,000 2nd class Iron Crosses were awarded and around 300,000 1st class. 1939 War Merit Cross First Class with Swords Marked "3" (Wilhelm Deumer) $ 175.00. All for free! an extremely difficult challenge to the modern day collector as their Looking at the side profile of the award confirms the correct multi-layer construction. Log in or Sign up to interact with the community. As German troops had the custom of actually wearing their awards and decorations into combat (as seen in virtually all wartime images) many soldiers legitimately made private purchases of licensed versions their awarded Crosses for field wear. In the case of two makers, C.F. An iron core may also have traces of rust after over one hundred years - or less, in the case of WW2 examples. The obverse of the cross bears the date 1939 under a "mobile" swas. Beware also of 'forum heroes' who enjoy deriding items owned by others, or shooting down items unjustly, and they can occasionally be guilty of pronouncing as fakes genuine items that are of lesser known variants. of fakes manufactured over the decades, and the challenge is even These were highly prized as war trophies and souvenirs by Allied soldiers. Although it was distributed in great numbers, the superior quality of the crosses manufactured remained consistent. Over $1M raised for veteran charities. The basic design of the WWII crosses is a central cross patee struck from iron and mounted in a silver frame which has a raised crenulated decorative border. Iron Crosses are a fascinating part of WW1 and WW2 History (earlier if you choose to go back to the original Prussian awards). that is a Maltese Cross (more accurately a Formee Cross), of course with the Swords as well as Oak Leaves with Swords and Diamonds there is always a On this one you can see a little ko stamped on the top which is a sure sign the cross is real. In this case '24'. The end Orders over 50 are sent by Special Delivery (7.50) / International Signed For (10). This is not true. An EK2 grouping for a soldier who earned his Iron Cross and Silver Wound Badge in the defence of Arnhem / Operation Market Garden. The fakes are made of cheap metals that won't stick to the magnet. . Orders, decorations, and medals of Nazi Germany - Wikipedia wears an Iron Cross 1st Class in cloth (courtesy Frank H.). plated iron for the center of the Iron Cross First Class. The 1st Class Spange to the Iron Cross (Repetition Clasp) 1939 was awarded to those who has already received the imperial 1st Class Iron Cross 1914 and earned the 1st Class Iron Cross again in WWII. Below is an example of an Iron Cross 1st class from Malcolm Wagner Militaria. This battlefield relic Iron Cross (metal detected in Russia) shows clearly the three piece construction of iron core and two pieces of silver frame. Worn on a length or ribbon and a loop around the neck. A 1939 Iron Cross First Class marked 65 for Klein & Quenzer. with most Iron Crosses the 1939 version was constructed of three pieces; If you take a strong magnet the iron in the cross will easily stick to it. WW2 Relic Tank Tracks, Armour Parts & Wheels - The Militaria Shop. It was issued without a ribbon and it fastened directly to the tunic pocket of the recipient. on the reverse of the upper arm was added to keep the Cross from rotating on its axis. WW2 Iron Cross 2nd class - with envelope of issue with maker mark "Walter & Henlein" - full length, original ribbon stitched to the suspender ring Medal in excellent, undamaged, uncleaned condition - envelope in used, faded, very worn condition . . metal plate with only the attachment mechanism present. do not yield to finger Be the first to know of our latest discoveries and exclusive offers. These "veins" are caused by rust forming underneath the bakedfinished. Many originals are unmarked and many copies are makers marked so please do not take a makers as a guarantee an item is original. Both were given to soldiers for bravery, as well as other significant acts when in a combat environment.Iron Cross Second Class when worn. 10 Steps TOOLS I will be comparing the WW2 iron cross which is a fake to a WW1 iron cross which is real. canals which thin sheet of silver. and Firearms authentication is very difficult. German Remembering, employing, empowering our nation's heroes. List of known 1939 Iron Cross Second class makers and marks Description These maker lists are always a work in progress and are the direct result of collectors bringing new information to the community. The 1939 plaque is the type that is cut at 45 degree angles at the ends. wear. For questions or accessibility help - please call (908) 903-1200. than others. Not only are these items increasingly rare and valuable, they are also a lovely small item that can fit into a display frame of cabinet with ease. This is the usual place to find makers marks on the EKII. 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). Thin Blue Line flags, thin red line flags, subdued flags. Which "look" is the touch. 914-403-1591. As such, it is always worth either speaking to someone who knows more on the subject, take advice or at the least, buy from a trusted source. This is a resource for all of us. For starters, numerous makers were licensed by the government to make the Iron Cross, with early war examples often being unmarked, and post 1941 mandated markings being in numerous forms. carrying ring has been soldered on prior to this process. the manufacturing process went as follows; The first operation, on a blanking die, stamped the shape of the frame into a Dear collectors! of copper, zinc and nickel, although a few rare examples may be found made of non-plated zinc frames. Rings are hooked to the Knights Cross, the ribbons are call: Add the fact that you have an abundance It shows signs of combat wear so it would look stunning on a combat uniform. To be awarded after World War II to Germany's 12 greatest war heroes. These are of completely different design, having different cores and frames. This is always a good sign, and a good thing to have up your sleeve should it subsequently prove to be a cleverly faked item. As collectors ourselves, we always want people to enjoy this hobby. Original German WWII Iron Cross First Class 1939 with Clip Back - Maker On this fake you can see an obvious flaw in the middle and tell it's painted a flat black. In this case '24'. Awards The fastening mode could Admin@SabreHQ.com Tel:1300 731 381 / 61 7 5530 5522. First look for any markings on the ring. To complicate matters some post war fakes are made using original parts or post-war by the actual makers passing them off to occupying Allied troops as souvenirs, and in some cases even into the 1950's. process, please see the section Whether its individual pieces or full collections, well buy it. Several styles of the pin and catch attachment Browse articles, see items for sale around the world, or check out our worldwide events calendar. WW2 Iron Cross with photograph of it being worn.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'militariatoday_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_19',700,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-militariatoday_com-narrow-sky-1-0');Rear of the Iron Cross and the back of the photograph, which is also a postcard. Certain makers and styles are even more sought after and command higher prices. Crosses. Germany. A 1939 Iron Cross Second Class that has been parade mounted. There are of course innocent dealers who have been fooled with a convincing fake, and then unintentionally passed it on to an unwitting customer. It is constructed out of a die-struck zinc . sheet of metal, was then struck into the pattern of the frame, with a Similarly no standard can be placed to the dates in the similar but more efficient For most militaria collectors, they are in the hands of honest dealers to be open with what it is that they are selling. Overseas rates on request. he least issued and more expensive variant is the pin or screw-back model, known simply to collectors as the Iron CrossFirst Class. kills. Iron Cross I and Iron Cross II, is created as follows: The rim is made of Iron They were known in Germany as the Eisernes Kreuz I & II. these crosses have a look that ranges from beige to almost brownish. 1) "Blanking Die" Method; From the beginning of the war to 1942, Two examples of this were civilian test pilots Hanna Reitsch who was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class and 1st Class and Melitta Schenk Grfin von Stauffenberg, who was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class, for their actions as pilots during World War II. $399.Front view showing the 1939 date.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'militariatoday_com-leader-2','ezslot_7',705,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-militariatoday_com-leader-2-0');Rear view with the screw plate in situ.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'militariatoday_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_3',706,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-militariatoday_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');Rear view of the cross with the plate removed. The 1st Class of the Iron Cross was presented more scarcely, and Merit Cross Welcome to WWII Forums! to find Iron Crosses with partially rusted centers. The second class Iron Cross was awarded far more frequently. If the frame is tight you can't always do this by the way, it works on ones that have become slightly loose over time. This protects you in case the item never arrives or the item is not as described. present the manufacturer's mark is found on either side of the pin, or on the reverse of the cross When the two halves were soldered the Clasp to the Iron Cross 1939 1st Class, 2nd Type by S & L. Germany. Wehrmacht. For the Oak Leaves, the Oak Leaves with Wehrmacht-Awards.com was distributed in great numbers, the superior quality of the crosses manufactured On the obverse, all grades featured a mobile swastika in the center, Though unmarked, this German WW2 EKI bears all of the hallmarks of the K&Q maker, and is a stunning example retaining 90% of its black finish, with a nice patina around the edges and absolutely no rust or corrosion. View. As the originals are very valuable, they are also commonly faked and post-war hybrids or fakes are often quite convincingly passed off as the real thing. these are not as immediately striking they are non-the-less visually powerful; the patina If Hersteller (Manufacturer) Marking Maker Location Free shipping for many products! Affixed with either a pin back or screw back. Although all manufacturers had to adhere to strict design features and specifications, very small differences do appear between them. This assumption, however, has not been documented and has actually One can only assume that the firms that were out of Two extremes - an Iron Cross which has 70.00 & WW2 original German FAITHFUL SERVICE CROSS with enamel. THIS CROSS HAS LIGHT SURFACE RUST ON THE IRON CORE AND AT SOME POINT THE PAINT WAS REMOVED FROM THE SWASTIKA, MOST LIKELY BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER. Higher grades of the award wereaccompaniedbyoak leaves, oak leaves with swords and oak leaves with swords and diamonds. control. Some are numbers some combinations of letter and number. Badges fallen out of favor in the collector's world. Collectors / sellers with just one or two items to sell: Send us an email to info@militariatoday.comwith 3-5 clear photos of the item, item description (be as descriptive as possible), location, price and shipping options, and we will shortlist it to be included in upcoming articles. parts are combined, the rim gets bleached and the iron blackened. Many thanks for your help! frost finish. April 1942 Script ford GPW Jeep April 1942 script ford. that characterise certain makers. fastening mechanism (a pin or "screwback", discussed in the 1st Class There are many fine and highly sought after Crosses that are not marked. A genuine subject matter expert should be engaged and consulted before contemplating the purchase of a KC. Iron Some Crosses were made as 'Award Pieces' that would have been issued to the recipient from their Unit upon earning the decoration. Watch Lot + Calendar 2023-05-16 09:30:00 2023-05-17 23:59:59 Europe/London Lockdales: Coins, Medals, . Iron Cross 1st Class 1939 by Maker 65 - eMedals WW2 Iron Crosses were usually never pure silver, and the 1st Class pieces could have a core of iron, brass, zinc or other metals, an iron core being the most desirable from the collector's point of view. I This is an excellent quality reproduction of the best known award of World War II: the German Iron Cross, or EKI (Eiserne Kreuz I)! The Division and the Blue Legion with Iron Crosses. & genuine WW2 German IRON CROSS 1ST CLASS maker: "26" metal detecting find. How to tell if a Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class is Real or Fake? An Iron Cross First Class 1939 with Case by Wilhelm Deumer $348. Identifying and buying the right Cross can be a little daunting and even a bit complicated for the newcomer in a number of ways. Gun magazine laws, concealed weapons laws, laws governing new made display guns, airsoft guns, blank fire guns, and other items vary greatly by nation, state and locality. Auction house trade marks are used on this website under licence from their respective owners. Documents IRON CROSS 2ND CLASS | Malcolm Wagner Militaria Iron Cross 1st Class - Wehrmacht distinguished different box available, made of black Spanish leather." TIPS FOR IDENTIFYING AND BUYING AN IRON CROSS, The highest grade of the Iron Cross Award. Medals & Badges #1 WW2 Collectors World In order to receive the Iron Cross 1st Class Heer and Waffen SS men would ), Schwartz (? The smooth rear fixing plate isone the more common variations. So being non-magnetic doesn't always mean that it's fake, but being magnetic means it does have a higher chance of being legit for a new collector who is not across the finer points of identifying Iron Crosses. halves together. You are at a gateway to WWII discussion, research, exploration, & analysis. smooth rim and crisp beading. Welcome to the WWII Forums! A 1939 EK1 Screwback marked L52 for C. F Zimmermann of Pforzheim. Iron Cross 1st Class had the same dimensions and Cross The system has generally stood the test of time, but is not uncommon Read and See More Miniature 1st Class Iron Cross 1914 and Spange 1939 Combo in this article bearing that name. by a soldier, or one that was perhaps received, worn, and shows its age. Badges plate (before punch) and punched out waste. All medals for sale are one-offs so please check for availability. The Iconic Iron Cross - Military Trader/Vehicles As in the case of the 2nd Class, unmarked crosses are perfectly Wehrmacht-Awards.com WW2 Relics New in Stock @ The Militaria Shop. This is almost a sure sign your iron cross is real. seas). To see more on our policy in this regardCLICK HERE. German Iron Cross First Class WW2 57er. November 2002, 03:47 PM: Message edited by: Martin Bull ], http://snyderstreasures.com/images/germanmilitaria/medals/ic/KCIC88MarkedFOA.jpg, http://regimentaldepot.com/TR/TR%20Medals/Iron%20Cross%201st%20Class/3500.htm, http://snyderstreasures.com/images/germanmilitaria/medals/ic/ICFC1939MM7F.jpg, (You must log in or sign up to reply here. Because of its 3 piece construction the black part of the cross will normally move around. Discussion It is worth pointing this out as I have known people suggest any unmarked cross is a copy. 1st Class - Iron Cross 1939 - Iron Cross 1939 - Germany - Europe - eMedals Iron Cross 2nd Class Makers markings. | Page 2 | WWII Forums For manufacturing A thin length of ribbon was worn on a tunic to denote the soldier as an award recipient, with the actual medal mounted to the ribbon to be worn at the time of award and for parade / ceremonial occasions. ww1 Iron Cross 2nd class Maker mark - Great War Forum these Crosses were used, or at least preferred, by Kriegsmarine personnel This would be the case if the wearer had been awarded other medals. As . Join in if you dare! WW2 German Dog Tags & Paperwork for Sale. Approximately 4.3 million Second Class Iron Crosses were issued, so as you can imagine, the number of variants is huge. The black painted Iron Core had its silver frame soldered together over the top of the iron core in two pieces from either side. As the swastika was The Iron Cross 1st Class had the same dimensions and identical obverse features as the 2nd Class (44mm by 44mm). You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. The second and more widely issued model is the Iron Cross Second Class and that was worn hanging by a loop from a ribbon above the pocket, in the same way that medals are conventionally worn today.