1939 Spange w/1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class by Deumer
Price: $395
BUY / RESERVE THIS ITEMDescription:.(Wiederholungsspange 1939 zum Eisernen Kreuz 2. Klasse 1914, 2. Form). Reinstituted 1 September 1939. (1940-1945 issue). Constructed of silvered tombak, the obverse consisting of a Wehrmacht eagle perched on top of a wreathed mobile swastika, in turn situated above a trapezoidal plaque bearing a raised date of “1939”, the reverse having 4 flat prongs for attachment to the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd class ribbon; Center reverse stamped with the maker LDO# L/11 for Wilhelm Deumer, Ludenscheid; measuring 30.5 mm (w) x 30.3 mm (h), weighing 8.1 grams, uncleaned deep dark silver patina; this type A Spange is in extremely fine condition.
Background: When the Iron Cross was reinstituted September 1, 1939, a special new award, the “Wiederholungsspange,” was also added to recognize people who had earned the 1914 Iron Cross during WWI and whose actions in this new war merited being awarded the Iron Cross again. There were two different patterns of this Spange, for the First and Second Classes of the Iron Cross. Both of them took the form of a German national eagle and swastika emblem, with outstretched wings, over a bar with the date “1939.” This Second Class Spange had two or four prongs on the reverse and was affixed to a length of 1914 pattern Iron Cross ribbon. Most of the Spange awards were made of a brass alloy (Buntmetall) with a silver finish, while late war examples were produced from zinc. As with most German combat awards, there were many variations of the Spange produced, including miniature awards for the ribbon bar.
