Cased German Cross in Silver with Original Cellophane

Product Description: This cased German Cross in Silver is an incredible time capsule, in unbelievable, stone mint condition. The cross appears to be literally untouched since WWII, and is still wrapped in the original factory cellophane wrapper, exactly as it was on the day it was made. This cross boasts absolutely flawless enamel, and fully 100 percent of the beautiful original finish. There is no hint of age or wear- it is simply pristine. The clear cellophane allows for inspection of the cross, which is textbook in all aspects. This piece was made by C. F. Zimmermann, and is maker marked ’20.” The cellophane is pristine, with no rips or tears. This cross is in its original case. The case has a black velvet insert inside, on which the cross rests, and the interior is lined with white artificial silk. The exterior of the case is covered with a black leatherette material, which is nearly perfect, with just a few minor marks. The push button closure and both hinges on the rear are intact and functional. The German Cross in Silver is a scarce award in any condition. To find one like this- in true mint condition- is extraordinary. It would likely be impossible to find a better cased German Cross.

Historical Description: The German Cross in Silver was instituted on September 28^th, 1941.  The German High Command saw it necessary to create an award which would bridge the gap between the War Merit Cross First Class and the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross.  Once instituted, the German Cross became one of Germany’s highest military decorations. The German Cross was similar to the Knights Cross in regards that the award was not based off of any previous awards in German history.  It was a unique creation which also ended with the war.  There were approximately 2,500 recipients of the German Cross in Silver.  This number, however, does not reflect the total amount of German Crosses produced.  

The German Cross was actually not a cross at all. It took on the form of an eight-pointed star, resembling some of the former breast awards of the Imperial era.  The award came in two forms, a metal version and a cloth version.  The metal version being the most complex of the two, it consisted of five separate pieces being fitted and held together using four to twelve rivets depending on who the manufacturer was. The cloth version follows the exact same design as the metal produced version except the entire cross is cloth with the exception of the laurel wreath still being metal.    

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