Original Items: One-of-a-kind. The War Merit Cross (Kriegsverdienstkreuz) was a decoration of NSDAP Germany during the Second World War, which could be awarded to military personnel and civilians alike. By the end of the war it was issued in four degrees, and had a related civil decoration. It was created by Adolf AH in October 1939 as a successor to the non-combatant Iron Cross which was used in earlier wars. The award was graded the same as the Iron Cross: War Merit Cross Second Class, War Merit Cross First Class, and Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross. The award had two variants: with swords given to soldiers for exceptional service "not in direct connection with combat", and without swords for meritorious service to civilians in "furtherance of the war effort". As with the Iron Cross, Recipients had to have the lower grade of the award before getting the next level.

This award document example approximately, 8" x 5.5, (20cm x 14cm), mid-weight paper document with black, printed Gothic/Fraktur script and typed in particulars. The script indicates that, Obergefreiten Alfred Buschmann of 2./Pi.Btl.(mot) 41 was awarded the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords, in the field, on the 20th of April 1944. Obergefreiten is a rank roughly corresponding to "Senior Lance Corporal". The document bears the authorizing signature of the Generalleutnant Kommandeur d.Korpsgruppe Joannina and shows yellowing typical of age.

Included is Buschmann's War Merit Cross 2nd Class, along with the hanging ribbon and crossed swords pin (attached to ribbon).