Original Items: Only One Lot of 7 Available. The War Merit Cross was a state decoration of NSDAP Germany during World War II. By the end of the conflict it was issued in four degrees and had an equivalent civil award. A sanitized version of the War Merit Cross was reissued in 1957 by the Bundeswehr for its veterans.

This award was created by Adolf H 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 award was graded in the same manner 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 given to civilians for meritorious service in "furtherance of the war effort". Recipients had to have the lower grade of the award before getting the next level.

The Examples In This Lot:
- Vaulted Screw Back KvK 1st Class With Swords Marked L/52: This is a wonderful screw back vaulted example which retains much of its original silver wash. The tarnish present is very easily removed if you would wish to do so. The bottom is marked L/52 for maker C. F. Zimmermann of Pforzheim, outside of Stuttgart.

- KvK 1st Class With Swords Marked 65: This is another lovely example of the KvK 1st Class with swords. The pin arm is marked with the number 65 for maker Klein & Quenzer A.G. The original silver wash now displays a lovely dark patina.

- KvK 2nd Class With Swords: This is a lovely KvK 2nd Class with swords and ribbon.

- KvK 1st Class: This is a lovely example of the KvK 1st Class without swords. It is maker marked on the pin arm, but was not aligned properly during the process and is incomplete. The silver wash is retained nicely.

- KvK 2nd Class: Another lovely example without swords. The ribbon is unstained and without damage.

- Austrian Mounted Kriegsverdienstmedaille KvM Medal: The War Merit Medal (Kriegsverdienstmedaille) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to recognize outstanding service by civilians in relation to the war effort. It was instituted on 19 August 1940 and usually awarded to those workers in factories who significantly exceeded work quotas. The War Merit Medal was awarded only to Germans and non-Germans civilians, to men and women. An estimated 4.9 million medals were awarded by the end of the war in Europe. It was closely related to the War Merit Cross, which could be awarded to military personnel and civilians alike for outstanding service to the war effort.

- Kriegsverdienstmedaille KvM Medal Buttonhole Ribbon: The ribbon is still strongly attached to the button, but unfortunately the colors on the ribbon are slightly faded.

These are all wonderful examples, perfect for the War Merit Cross/Medal collectors.
Comes more than ready for display!

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.

The ribbon of the War Merit Cross was in red-white-black-white-red; that was, the red and black colors being reversed from the ribbon of the World War II version of the Iron Cross. The ribbon for the War Merit Medal was similar, but with a narrow red vertical red strip in the center of the black field. Soldiers who earned the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords wore a small crossed-swords device on the ribbon. The War Merit Cross 1st Class was a pin-backed medal worn on the pocket of the tunic (like the Iron Cross 1st Class). The ribbon of the War Merit Cross 2nd Class could be worn like the ribbon of the Iron Cross 2nd Class (through the second buttonhole). Nonetheless combat soldiers tended to hold the War Merit Cross in low regard, referring to its wearers as being in 'Iron Cross Training'. The Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross was a neck decoration and worn the same way as the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross.