Cased 1939 War Merit Cross 1st Class, #L21
Price: $295
BUY / RESERVE THIS ITEMDescription: Die struck, zinc construction award with a superbly retained silver finish in the form of a Maltese style cross with a circular centerpiece with an embossed, canted, swastika encircled by an oak-leaf wreath to the obverse. The plain reverse has a cast one-piece hinge, a broad, tapered, vertical (L/21 stamped) pin and a cast one-piece catch. The reverse of the cross is additionally marked with the manufacturer’s LDO code, “L/21” cast into the badge near the catch indicating manufacture by Foerster & Barth of Pforzheim. The award comes housed in its original case of issue. A remarkable condition wartime zinc-alloy cross retaining most of its original silvered finish adding to this “double marked” cased WMC.
Background: The War Merit Cross was instituted by A.H. in October 1939, in two classes with both classes issued, with and without swords, for award to military personnel and civilians, including females and foreigners, for exemplary service and/or bravery in Germany’s war effort, in a non-combatant role.
