Knights Cross War Merit Cross without Swords

Product Description: This Knights Cross War Merit Cross without Swords is an extremely rare award, that few collectors will ever own. Only 137 of these medals were awarded. This one is in excellent condition. It’s nice and clean, with some original surface luster peeking through a light, pleasant age patina and original matte frosted finish. This rare cross is nicely marked on the underside with the maker code “1” indicating manufacture by the firm of Deschler & Sohn in Munich, a premiere maker of high quality awards. It’s also marked “900” indicating the material content of this piece is 90 percent pure silver. Every detail of this cross is absolutely correct for a wartime Deschler produced piece, including the distinctive stippling and die features which we have highlighted in the photos. The suspension ring and loop are perfect. The ribbon on this Knights Cross War Merit Cross without Swords is a postwar replacement, the type manufactured for 1957 pattern replacement awards. This ribbon is complete, with intact original ties, and only very slight age toning; it displays well with this cross. This is an extremely impressive piece that could be the centerpiece of a collection of Third Reich awards.

Historical Description: The War Merit Cross (Kriegsverdienstkreuz) was likely the most commonly awarded WWII German decoration. In 1939, when Hitler reinstituted the Iron Cross, he did not reinstitute the non-combatant version that had existed in previous wars. As a successor to this, he created the War Merit Cross. It existed in the same grades as the Iron Cross- there was the War Merit Cross 1st Class, War Merit Cross 2nd Class, and Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross. The 2nd Class award was a medal suspended from a ribbon, coated with a bronze finish. The War Merit Cross 1st Class was a pin-on award, with a silver finish. The Knights Cross version was worn on a ribbon around the bearer’s neck. The crosses were further differentiated into two categories: with swords, and without swords. The award with swords was for meritorious service in the face of the enemy and could be awarded to soldiers to recognize achievements, that did not merit award of an Iron Cross, as well as to civilians who fought fires during Allied air raids. The award without swords was for furthering the war effort and could also be awarded to soldiers or civilians. Millions of people were eligible for these crosses, from members of the armed services to personnel of the Reichsbahn, the Luftschutz, border guards and customs agents and members of the other various political and paramilitary Third Reich organizations, and even factory workers. Some soldiers used a sort of military humor to mock the War Merit Cross as a “far-from-combat badge” or “field kitchen assault badge.” But many recipients of these crosses wore them with pride.The War Merit Cross (Kriegsverdienstkreuz) was likely the most commonly awarded WWII German decoration. In 1939, when Hitler reinstituted the Iron Cross, he did not reinstitute the non-combatant version that had existed in previous wars. As a successor to this, he created the War Merit Cross. It existed in the same grades as the Iron Cross- there was the War Merit Cross 1st Class, War Merit Cross 2nd Class, and Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross. The 2nd Class award was a medal suspended from a ribbon, coated with a bronze finish. The War Merit Cross 1st Class was a pin-on award, with a silver finish. The Knights Cross version was worn on a ribbon around the bearer’s neck. The crosses were further differentiated into two categories: with swords, and without swords. The award with swords was for meritorious service in the face of the enemy and could be awarded to soldiers to recognize achievements, that did not merit award of an Iron Cross, as well as to civilians who fought fires during Allied air raids. The award without swords was for furthering the war effort and could also be awarded to soldiers or civilians. Millions of people were eligible for these crosses, from members of the armed services to personnel of the Reichsbahn, the Luftschutz, border guards and customs agents and members of the other various political and paramilitary Third Reich organizations, and even factory workers. Some soldiers used a sort of military humor to mock the War Merit Cross as a “far-from-combat badge” or “field kitchen assault badge.” But many recipients of these crosses wore them with pride.

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