Original WWII German War Merit Cross 2nd Class Without Swords 1939

Description

The Original WWII German War Merit Cross offered here is a German Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. Klasse ohne Schwerter, or War Merit Cross 2nd Class Without Swords, dating from the Second World War period.

This historical decoration features the characteristic four-armed cross design with finely textured recessed fields and raised borders. At the centre of the obverse is the swastika emblem surrounded by a decorative circular border, while the reverse carries the raised date 1939 within the same central medallion.

The suspension eye and ring remain present at the top of the cross. The photographs supplied show the decoration without a ribbon.

Original WWII German War Merit Cross: Historical Background

The War Merit Cross was instituted on 18 October 1939, shortly after the beginning of the Second World War. Several grades and variations existed, including versions with swords and without swords.

The War Merit Cross 2nd Class Without Swords was generally associated with meritorious service connected with the German war effort that did not involve direct combat action. It could therefore be awarded for administrative, industrial, organisational and other forms of non-combatant service.

The version with swords was instead associated with military merit connected more directly with wartime operations.

As a result, the Kriegsverdienstkreuz became one of the more widely distributed German decorations of the Second World War and today represents an interesting field of study within German medal and militaria collecting.

Construction and Details

This example displays the classic cross form of the 1939 War Merit Cross.

The surfaces of each arm have a fine stippled or pebbled texture surrounded by raised borders. The central medallions are separately defined visually by a raised decorative ring.

The obverse displays the period political emblem at its centre, while the reverse clearly shows the year 1939.

The finish has aged considerably, producing the grey and dark metallic appearance visible in the photographs. Small areas of oxidation, surface wear and colour variation are present, particularly around the central medallion and edges.

These characteristics have deliberately not been polished or restored.

Condition

The Original WWII German War Merit Cross is preserved in used historical condition.

Visible characteristics include:

• original age-related surface wear
• darkened metallic patina
• oxidation and tonal variation
• wear to raised details
• intact suspension loop and ring
• clearly visible 1939 date
• clearly defined central design
• no restoration or aggressive cleaning apparent from the photographs

The photographs form an important part of the condition description and show the exact piece offered.

No manufacturer number or maker mark can be confidently identified from the supplied photographs, so the decoration is intentionally listed without attribution to a specific manufacturer.

Collecting Interest

The Kriegsverdienstkreuz remains one of the principal German decorations encountered in collections covering WWII medals and awards.

Examples can differ considerably in material, manufacturer, finish, suspension ring markings and preservation. Later-war examples in zinc can particularly display significant loss of their original finish, making surviving surface characteristics useful for comparative study.

This example is particularly suitable for collectors seeking an untouched-looking piece displaying honest age and use rather than a highly polished decoration.

Further Reading

For historical background, see Deutsches Historisches Museum: “Ehrenzeichen”, on the history of German decorations.

Before buying, read my Complete Collector’s Guide to WWII German Medals.

Historical Responsibility Notice: this item is offered as a historical artefact for collecting, preservation, education and research. It does not endorse or glorify any ideology.