Cased 1939 War Merit Cross w/Swords, 1st Class,#65
Price: Sold
Description: Die struck tombak service award with a nickel/silver plated finish is 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 background field of the obverse centerpiece is smooth while the arms of the cross have a pebbled background field with raised, smooth, outer edges. The plain reverse has a solid, soldered, hinge, a broad, vertical tapered pin and a heavy soldered catch all intact. The reverse of the pin is well marked with the impressed manufacturer’s numerical code, “65”, indicating manufacture by Klein & Quenzer of Oberstein.
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. The addition of swords to the award signifies bravery while awards without swords were bestowed for service. (The War Merit cross series of awards was expanded on August 19TH 1940, to include a Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross for award to personnel who had provided a substantial contribution to the war effort and the War Merit Medal for award to German nationals and foreign civilians who provided exceptional service to the war effort).
