German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz), 1941
SOLD
BACKGROUND: The War Order of the German Cross was introduced on September 28TH 1941 in two classes of Gold and Silver. The Gold class Cross was awarded to military personnel for exceptional acts of bravery or achievement in combat while the Silver class was awarded for distinguished acts of service. Criteria for bestowal of either Cross included that the recipient must first have been awarded the 1939 EK1 or the 1939 Bar to the EK1. On introduction of the award a cloth version was also authorized for wear with the color of the base material indicating uniform branch color (Green, Blue, Black, Tan or White).
Description:Hand embroidered example features a double, overlaid, eight point, sunburst pattern with the top, inner layer, sunburst in matte, brownish/gray, cotton threads, and the bottom, outer layer, in bright, silver/aluminum wire threads. The cross has a gilt washed, circular, stamped alloy, wreath with embossed laurel leaves & impressed introduction date, “1941” to the bottom center. The wreath is identical to the wreaths utilized on the metal crosses. Both the inner and outer edges of the alloy wreath have red thread borders with an additional silver/aluminum thread border to the outer edge. The wreath encompasses an embroidered, black swastika with a silver/aluminum thread outer border on a white rayon base. The cross is mounted on a cut-out, field-gray wool base indicating an army or Waffen-SS issue award. Mint unused.
