EK1 Spange – Mayer

Product Description: This is a really nice and attractive example of a desirable EK1 Spange. It’s a high quality piece, made of a brass alloy (Tombak). The obverse has a very appealing, uncleaned look, with light, even patina throughout, and nice contrast. Virtually all of the original finish is intact, with only slight evident wear to high points and edges. The reverse of this handsome EK1 Spange is flat and smooth, with typical age toning. There is no maker mark, but this variant is known to have been produced by the firm of B. H. Mayer. The hardware is textbook for this maker, with an elongated block hinge, tapered pin and flat wire “C” catch. The attachment pin still works as it should, and there is no sign of repair, nor any damage of any kind. This beautiful Iron Cross Spange remains in excellent plus condition overall.

Historical Description: When Adolf Hitler reinstituted the historical Iron Cross decoration on September 1, 1939, he also instituted a special new award, the “Wiederholungsspange,” 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.” The First-Class award had a pin attachment or screw back, to enable it to be worn on the uniform pocket over the 1914 Iron Cross. Some combo-type awards are also known, with the Spange fastened to the top arm of the 1914 cross. The 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.

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