$5,450.00
Condition: EXC +
Maker: Zimmermann
In stock
Product Description: This cased German Cross in Gold by Zimmermann is an exceptional, investment-grade example of one of the most prestigious decorations of the Third Reich. Produced by C.F. Zimmermann, Pforzheim PKZ code “20,” this piece represents the finest quality of early war manufacture. The cross itself displays honest wear, with attractive patina to the white enamel central disc and only minor handling to the black enamel swastika, which retains nearly all of its deep luster. The gilded wreath, dated 1941, retains strong original finish and shimmer, enhancing its visual impact. On the reverse, the hardware is textbook for Zimmermann, featuring the correct hinge, catch, and banjo pin setup. The “20” maker stamp is crisply applied beneath the pin, and the Tombak rivets are untouched and precisely placed—hallmarks of an original, unmessed-with piece.
The cross is housed in its original and extremely desirable early German Cross case, a rare variant distinguished by the sought-after “mushroom” style push-button closure. The exterior of the case is beautifully preserved, showing only minimal surface wear and retaining nearly all of its original texture and finish. The gold-embossed outline on the lid clearly denotes the grade of the award. Inside, the cross rests against its original black velvet base, with the white silk lid liner showing only subtle age toning. The case closes securely and displays the award to excellent effect.
Matched early sets like this—especially by Zimmermann and in such well-preserved condition—have become exceedingly difficult to source. This is a top-tier example of a cased German Cross in Gold, and would be a centerpiece in even the most advanced collection. The overall condition of both the cross and its case rates as excellent.
Historical Description: The German Cross in Gold was instituted on September 28th, 1941. The German High Command saw it necessary to create an award which would bridge the gap between the Iron Cross First Class and the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. Once instituted, the German Cross became Germany’s second highest military decoration, second only to the Knights Cross and its subsequent grades. 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 26,000 recipients of the German Cross in Gold. 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.
Known Manufacturers: Deschler & Sohn, Munchen,;C.E. Juncker, Berlin; C.F. Zimmermann, Pforzheim; Gebruder Godet, Berlin; Otto Klein, Hanau
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