Iron Crosses 1st Class 1914 & 1939

danpatjoe · 09-09-2009 10:54pm #1

Hello All...

I thought I'd create a new thread for first class iron crosses to keep them separate from the second class versions. Anyone feel free to add your examples here.

danpatjoe · 09-09-2009 10:56pm

I'll start with a nicely worn, private purchase L/13 (Paul Meybauer) pin-back, (second type pin) in an original case of issue.

danpatjoe · 09-09-2009 11:00pm

A very nice MM-100 Pinback, (Wächtler & Lange), in an original case of issue with the rarer 'square' button.

danpatjoe · 09-09-2009 11:04pm

A well worn and 'salty' pinback marked 65 (Klein & Quenzer) in original case of issue.

danpatjoe · 11-09-2009 7:49pm

Here's another Klein & Quenzer pin-back. This is an unmarked example with original case of issue.

danpatjoe · 13-09-2009 10:11pm

An early 'salty' L54 marked, vaulted, screw-back cross from the firm of Schauerte & Hohfeld of Lüdenscheid.

danpatjoe · 14-09-2009 7:19pm

Here's an early Deumer (PKZ No. 3 or L/11) pin-back cross (straight pin version) with a magnetic, copper plated core.
Unmarked as was typical of these variations.
This one has seen some action!

danpatjoe · 15-09-2009 9:56pm

A very nice 1914 cross double stamped CD 800 under the pin.

danpatjoe · 16-09-2009 12:34pm

Here's a 1939 pinback cross, unmarked but displaying all the features common to marked crosses from B. H. Mayer's Kunstprägeanstalt, Pforzheim. In an original case of issue.

danpatjoe · 17-09-2009 8:03pm

Here's a '4' marked cross from the firm of Steinhauer & Lück, Lüdenscheid, in an original case of issue.
This example has the late war (& post-war) hardware set-up (hinge, pin & clasp).

Fuinseog · 22-09-2009 9:15pm

how can you tell the maker of the iron cross? I don't think I ever saw it stamped anywhere. which maker would be considered rare?
I once came across an iron cross made by the Russians in a tiny medal shop in vienna with the inscription to the effect of ' for war crimes' does anyone know anything about this?

Dr Strange · 22-09-2009 9:42pm

Fuinseog wrote: »

how can you tell the maker of the iron cross? I don't think I ever saw it stamped anywhere. which maker would be considered rare?
I once came across an iron cross made by the Russians in a tiny medal shop in vienna with the inscription to the effect of ' for war crimes' does anyone know anything about this?

Hi,

yes, many Iron Cross medals are maker marked. The Second Class crosses would be marked at the ring on top. The first class crosses either on their backs or needle system. Of course, there are many unmarked crosses. Once you specialise in different makers you may be able to identify an unmarked cross as having been made by a particular maker because of the way the cross was produced. There are (sometimes) subtle differences in the production of the cross but the overall concept had to adhere to Reichszeugmeisterei Standards.

The "For war crimes" cross is a known Eastern production. It has nothing to do with the real original german decoration but is an interesting part of propaganda production.

BlackEdelweiss · 27-09-2009 12:57am

What is the difference between marked and unmarked medals, apart from the obvious fact of being able to determine who produced them, were they all awarded to troops regardless of the maker, marked or unmarked?

Dr Strange · 27-09-2009 11:24am

BlackEdelweiss wrote: »

What is the difference between marked and unmarked medals, apart from the obvious fact of being able to determine who produced them, were they all awarded to troops regardless of the maker, marked or unmarked?

Yes, they were all awarded, in that regard there is no difference between marked and unmarked. Obviously, it is easier to identify the maker if they are marked but as said before in some cases the maker can be identified by the way the medal was made and certain tiny changes in certain areas of the medal (mostly due to some artefact in the die-cast which was then repeatedly used just by that particular maker).

citizen_p · 29-09-2009 7:28pm

Iron cross 1st class Ceremony
they are small (smaller than 6x6) so they are a bit blurry from being blown up.
scanned at 300 dpi

1st recipient

other recipient
(maybe he(above) was awarded and then award another to a soldier under his command???/ or the first 2 are just men chatting )

sorry if they shouldnt be here!!!!!!!!!!!!

danpatjoe · 06-10-2009 8:01am

A nice 1914 cross marked KO for Königliches Münzamt Orden, Berlin.
Note the extra long (and sharp!) pin.

danpatjoe · 14-10-2009 11:53pm

Another private purchase first class cross in original case of issue. This one is LDO marked L/19 -
(Ferdinand Hoffstädter, Bonn a. Rhein).
This has a non-magnetic brass core, note how the paint does not adhere well to the brass.

danpatjoe · 23-10-2009 11:02pm

Another brass, non magnetic core pinback. This one is stamped '15' on the pin for Friedrich Orth, Wien.
Again, in original case of issue.

danpatjoe · 05-11-2009 11:30pm

A nicely worn, slightly vaulted B. H. Mayer cross marked '26' on the pin. Magnetic core.
Unfortunately the clasp has been broken... may have been ripped from a uniform??

danpatjoe · 01-12-2009 11:37pm

Another well worn, private purchase cross. This one, an early version, is marked on the pin L/56 (LDO code for the firm of Funcke & Bruninghaus) with a magnetic core, in original case of issue.

danpatjoe · 05-12-2009 11:19pm

Here's one with an unusual feature - It's a double-marked C.F. Zimmermann cross. It has both the PKZ no. '20' and the LDO code 'L/52' stamped on the pin.
This one is suffering from corrosion to the core, which is a common trait to this maker. The frames on these crosses are identical to Godet (PKZ no. '21' & LDO Code 'L/50') produced crosses, and I believe the core is aswell. It is well known that these two companies shared parts or dies (or both).
This cross is also in an original case of issue.

danpatjoe · 18-12-2010 10:45pm

I had stopped collecting EK1's but the opportunity of a trade for this stunner arose, and I couldn't resist it.

It is a beautiful example of a high quality private purchase cross, with an uncommon screwback system. It is highly vaulted cross with a high 938 silver content. The back plate is 800 silver as is the screwdisc - stamped D.R.G.M. (Deutsches Reich Gebrauchs Muster) 653146, and with 800 silver mark and 'PM'.

As to the engraving, I cannot be certain as to when this was added, it is certainly not of jeweller quality, but as yet I have not dismissed it entirely.
Around an image of propellers and wings are the words 'Fliegen Siegen' (roughly translated means: victory through flight / flying victory / triumph through air power), and Lnt Schmüser, 1918.

Even if the engraving turns out not to be original, I still love this cross!

Iron Crosses 1st Class 1914 & 1939

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