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WWII GERMAN IRON CROSS SECOND CLASS SPANG AWARD (FIRST TYPE) -
This is a WWII Iron Cross first class Spang award. It was given to soldiers who earned the Iron Cross Second Class during WWI and excelled themselves in combat during WWII.

The spang was instituted on September 1st of 1939.


AWARD CRITERIA
The following is a list of the actions that need to be completed in order to attain the Second class Spang.


Num Description
1

For providing outstanding service to service personnel.

2

For exhibiting bravery in the face of combat.

3

The cross



AWARD PRESENTATION
The award was issued in a brown or blue paper packet. Sometimes it was given in a black, green or burgandy cardboard which could display the LDO logo on the lid or those letters stamped inside the lid. The box was plain and did not have a liner.

The award was presented with a plain citation that had a facsimile of the Iron Cross on top. The signature of the commanding officer is found in the lower section, along with an official stamp and the unit to which the soldier was assigned.


AWARD ANATOMY
The design consisted of an eagle with spread wings, head looking left, cluthing a circle. The circle is outlined by a wreath. The center of the circle has a swastika and is pebbled. The feet of the eagle are clearly visible and very detailed. A trapeziod shape device is attached below the circle. With a thick border. The main body of this piece is also pebbled. The date 1939 is written in the center with bold numbers.

The spang was placed above the Iron Cross. It was attached to a piece of 1914 ribbon using the four prongs. It was placed through the second button hole of the jacket.




The back of the award is flat. A vertical pin is attached to the top portion via the use of a hinge. A catch is secured at the opposite end. The pin is thick and tapers down as it nears the tip.


VARIATIONS OF THE AWARD
The Spang was available in a two variations:

  1. Second Class First Type - This is the type covered on this page).
  2. Second Class Second Type - This model had only two prongs in the back instead of four.

This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII German badges and awards. Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined points that should be noted.

One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII German badge worth?". A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the badges and awards is reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth of the German badges in the collector's market is illustrated.

This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of MilitaryItems.com, a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?
  1. FAQ's
  2. Spang Anatomy
  3. Identifying fakes and reproductions
  4. RZM manufacturing codes
  5. LDO manufacturing codes
  6. Construction materials
  7. Pins, hinges and other
  8. Perspective view
  9. Purchasing a WWII German badge


BY THE NUMBERS
It is hard to determine the exact number of Iron Cross Second Class Spangs that were produced. However, thanks to the record keeping maintained by the Wehrmacht, it is possible to estimate how many crosses were actually issued. The number stands at close to 500,000.



The spang was issued to soldiers who received the Iron Cross Secnod Class during WWI and distinguished themselves during WWII.

The actual number of Iron Cross Spang produced is greater than the number that was issue. It must be accounted that the armed forces would have a stock in hand so it could replace lost ones and issue new awards. In addition the factories were likely to have warehouses with inventory at hand. The Iron Cross was one of the awards most widely distributed during WWII.

The population of Germany in 1939 was approximately 64,000,000.




COLLECTING IRON CROSS SPANGS
Collecting Third Reich memorabilia is a field that has been growing since the days the GI's rummaged around Europe bringing back military souvenirs. German soldiers wore many of their awards on their uniforms when they went to battle. Once the soldier was killed or captured, the American soldiers would take the awards as war trophies. Eventually all these pieces came back to the United States where military history enthusiasts began to collect them.

"I am trying to figure out if I should get into collecting Iron Cross Spangs."


Determining which military badges to collect can be a challenging decision. The combination of availabiilty and cost will often set the pace of what can be collected.

The adjacent table outlines some of the advantages and disadvantages of collecting the Infantry Assault badge.


This award is currently being reproduced. It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this badge. Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of the badge.



If you have an interest is seeing other badges and awards of the Third Reich, you can do so by going to our WWII German Badges and Awards identification guide. Where we cover Heer (Army), Navy (Kriegsmarine) and Air Force (Luftwaffe) items.







PRICING GUIDE INFORMATION

The value for WWII German Combat badges and other military antiques and collectibles is provided as a means to educate the collector community and individuals who have a general interest on the field. The following is an estimated value. Prices may vary in every state and every country. This service is provided courtesy of MilitaryItems.com. The source for military antiques and collectibles in the web.

Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Value $150.00 $175.00 $200.00 $250.00 $275.00 $300.00 $325.00 $350.00 $350.00 $350.00 $375.00 $375.00
Availability Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium
Invest Grade A A A A A A A A A A A A


While the item featured here is not for sale, similar items like it are available for purchase in our website MilitaryItems.com


  MARKET ANALYSIS
Jan 3rd, 2017
Spangs are sought after by collectors. The one featured here is in very good condition. The value is likely to go up over the years.


 
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