WWII GERMAN IRON CROSS 1st CLASS -
The Iron Cross has long been held as a symbol for bravery in combat, The Germans have been employing it
as an award since the 1800's. The Iron Cross employed during WWII is very similar to that used in
WWI.
The major differences between the two periods are the dates displayed in the lower arm of the cross
and the absecense of a Swastika in the WWI type.
The award was issued in two primary types:
- First Class - Pin back construction
- Second Class - Award suspended via a ribbon
The Cross was instituted on September 1st 1939.
There are three basic variations. The first design is the one covered here. A second design came with slightly convex
arms (Produced by Godet and Son of Berlin). The third design was produced for use by the Navy. This cross has a Brass
core which was chemically blackened.
There is a cloth version of the award. It came in a few different variations. The construction was very high quality.
The front has the appearance of the Iron Cross. The back is plain and often covered in paper. It is possible that
these items were private purchase. The actual reason for their creation is not certain. It makes sense that they would
be worn in occassions where the metal version would be too cumbersome.
|
The "Military minute" is a series of instructional videos created by MilitaryItems.com for the purpose of
providing basic information about military collectibles. The idea is to expose people to the exciting
world of military collectibles.
The video presentation coupled with detailed photographs and written information, including a military
collectible's price guide, and anatomical breakdown of each piece enhances the visitor's experience.
Whether you are a long time collector, a beginner or simply have an interest in the history and value of
each collectible, we hope that you find the information presented here useful.
|
The award was issued in a box with a certificate. Additional accoutrements such as ribbons could
be obtained and were authorized for wear by the recipient of the Iron Cross.
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 Iron Cross 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.
|
|
BY THE NUMBERS
It is hard to determine the exact number of Iron Crosses that were produced. However, thanks to the record keeping
maintained by the Wehrmacht, it is possible to find how many crosses were actually issued.
The actual number of Iron Crosses 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 CROSSES
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 Infantry Assault badges."
|
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.
|