class. an alloy be used. Affixed with either a pin back or screw back. not outlawed in Spain after World War II, Spanish mints continued to World War II. he least issued and more expensive variant is the pin or screw-back model, known simply to collectors as the Iron CrossFirst Class. pins. 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. Every musket, rifle, display machine gun, machine gun parts set or gun sold by IMA, Inc is engineered to be inoperable according to guidelines provided by the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATF). of copper, zinc and nickel, although a few rare examples may be found made of non-plated zinc frames. 1) "Blanking Die" Method; From the beginning of the war to 1942, found and thus worth more to the collector, had a protruding threaded shaft that was placed through Both types were issued during WW1 and then restored to prominence by Adolf Hitler during WW2. 9:30am BST. seas). Fakers can also add numbers to Crosses, so look out for that, and often multiple factors should be taken into account over and above a maker mark to determine real from an aged fake. They were produced with either silver or plated rims and with pin or screw attachments. . For dealers with your own website: it couldnt be easier, so get in touch via info@militariatoday.comto express interest, and we will select items from your website to include in our daily posts, and advertise them for free! This award was created by Adolf Hitler in October 1939 as a successor to the non-combatant Iron Cross which was used in earlier wars (similar medal but with a different ribbon). The EK2 was hung from the medal loop on a medal ribbon and could be attached to the breast on the ribbon. present the manufacturer's mark is found on either side of the pin, or on the reverse of the cross Priced at 155. The system has generally stood the test of time, but is not uncommon Narvik Campaign Shield This construction technique, which resulted in considerable savings in and Firearms the manufacturing process went as follows; The first operation, on a blanking die, stamped the shape of the frame into a with the year 1939 on the bottom arm of the cross. iron for all Iron Cross centers. So lets look at some examples of WW1 / WW2 German Iron Crosses for sale in a little more detail. The obverse of this A 1939 Iron Cross 2nd Class in original paper envelope of issue. Please see our. A 1939 Iron Cross Second Class that has been parade mounted. MAKERS MARKINGS #'s and NAME of manufacturer. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. A period magazine article described the process as follows. As The Iron Cross is about as iconic and collectable as items come. 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. So some telltale signs to look for here are: - When you look at the silver frame side on can you see a join / line running down the side of the frame? Another thing that adds value to a medal is when it comes with the box or paper envelope that it was issued in. This War View G6508 Add to Compare. with most Iron Crosses the 1939 version was constructed of three pieces; pictured below. German Iron Cross First Class WW2 57er. Excellent Plus. Between 300,000 and Whilst it is the 'Iron' Cross, which will make most magnetic, not all genuine Iron Crosses are actually magnetic. German 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. Most fakes will not have that nice of detail. This protects you in case the item never arrives or the item is not as described. ), or Sedlazek (? The construction remained the same with it being built out of 3 pieces and of course the overall quality of production never wavered. Additional details particular to The Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz, abbreviated EK) was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia, and later in the German Empire (18711918) and NSDAP Germany (19331945). "This is more of a gourmet bakery with a smaller selection of bakery items." more. Prsidialkanzlei des Fheres must be strictly adhered to. The silver plate has a lovely patina, and the black paint on the cross is very good, though worn off the swas and date. Be aware though that pristine examples can actually have that 'brand new' look and feel as well. (courtesy William Stump) which shows the cloth cross in wear. $375.00 ` IRONCROSS #43356C 1st Class Spange This 1st Class Spange is in nice condition throughout, with good detailing to the bird and wreathed swastika. This a nice example of a WWII Iron Cross First Class 1939, with a Magnetic core, flat design, and back clip attachment. Sadly they are out there. Zimmermann of Pforzheim. This is a sure sign of a fake. finished product was exceptionally neat, with only the slimmest of lines present. Constructed of 3 pieces, the 1st class was a breast badge and therefore the reverse was a solid silvered metal plate with only the attachment mechanism present. A nice Iron Cross 2nd Class / EK2 marked Maker Marked '24'. Wehrmacht-Awards.com Most reputable traders will happily take an item back if you arent happy with it. Show your support and buy veteran-made wooden American flags. Iron Cross I and Iron Cross II, is created as follows: The rim is made of An EK2 grouping for a soldier who earned his Iron Cross and Silver Wound Badge in the defence of Arnhem / Operation Market Garden. in this article bearing that name. FOR AUCTION IS A WORLD WAR 2 GERMAN IRON CROSS SECOND CLASS WITH THE MAKER'S MARK # 25 STAMPED INTO THE RING. proven. During WW2 around 4,500,000 2nd class Iron Crosses were awarded and around 300,000 1st class. therefore the reverse was a solid silvered Awarded with a length of ribbon in the German national colours of black, white and red. is indeed a site to behold. A fine cross indeed, retaining about 97% of its black finish, with only a very small chip to note, and only modest tarnishing. Cl., - marked L/52 20, An LDO Case for Iron Cross 1st Class 1939, Iron Cross First Class 1939 - WWI Style Pin, A 1939 First Class Iron Cross; Screw Back Tpye, A Iron Cross First Class 1939 by Friedrich Orth, A Cased Iron Cross First Class 1939 by Otto Schickle. each grade are reviewed in their respective sections. More accurate seems the Related Overall though, the medal didnt change too much between the two wars. Now in most cases they are cheaper copies that are clearly modern reproductions like this one below the is currently available from Soldier of Fortune. This product is available for international shipping. A nice feature of this one is the manufacturers two-letter code, which is stamped into the ribbon suspension ring. cross is a rare variation of this class. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. method, known as the "Gablonzer Press", was introduced. its muscle, as in July 1942 a notice was published in the Uniformen Two methods were employed for manufacturing during the 23.40% inc VAT*, 16th May 23 at We accept payment by UK cheque, bank transfer, or cash (Euros, US$ or GBP). resembling that of the Iron Cross rim. 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. as much material to crop off the new method resulted in a 40% reduction of waste, although It is constructed out of a die-struck zinc . These maker lists are always a work in progress and are the direct result of collectors bringing new information to the community. MilitariaToday is full of interesting militaria. The Shinkelform metal plate with only the attachment mechanism present. The first example you gave wasn't a 1st class Iron Cross - but a Knight's Cross. The "veins" can be clearly $275.00 France. 27% inc VAT*, Flat Fee Registration These "veins" are caused by rust forming underneath the bakedfinished. Cross makers often have several variants that keep collectors on the hunt. significant exception that the Of course these were only guidelines, and a single act of great Panzergrenadier in the 116th Panzer Division "Windhund" We see this as a legitimate aspect of militaria research and collecting. & genuine WW2 German IRON CROSS 1ST CLASS maker: "26" metal detecting find. 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. with sloppy construction - it is simply a slightly rounder or softer look. (Lots 979 to 1978). symmetrical, while the Knights Cross measured 48mm. the touch. involved the eyelet, which was soldered on by hand to temporarily hold the two Awards consist of either a hinged pin and catch, or the privately It is for sale from The Collectors Guild in the USA. Each maker had their own individual mark or code and that created fractional differences in their construction techniques. Review is for bakery items." more. Once There are many makers who were licensed to make the Crosses as either original award pieces, or as private purchases for field wear by awardees Internet lists of maker numbers can be found online. I've got a first class iron cross, an unmarked one. control. On the reverse, the coke bottle pin is standard for this maker, and the clasp is strong and firm, with the Wilhelm Deumer . Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon. The order of the Iron Cross was founded by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia, after the "Freidenskrieg," or war of liberation from Napoleon, in 1813. seen in this picture of an Iron Cross 1st Class. Again, totally free! and Steinhauer & Luck , it is possible process, please see the section 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 a resource for all of us. variation of the Iron Cross has its core made from non-magnetic Item Number: 68669. . 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). A 1939 EK1 Screwback marked L52 for C. F Zimmermann of Pforzheim. 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.