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WWII GERMAN IRON CROSS 2nd CLASS -

The Iron Cross is perhaps the most recognizable award of World War two. It was issued to soldiers in recognition for bravery. The Iron Cross employed during WWII is very similar to that used during WWI . The major differences between the two periods are the dates displayed in the lower arm of the cross and the absecense of a Swastika in the WWI type.

The award was issued in two primary types:

  1. First Class - Pin back construction
  2. Second Class - Award suspended via a ribbon




This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII German badges and awards. Multiple detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined points that should be noted.

One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII German Iron Cross worth?". A price guide is included here to address this question. The value of the badges and awards is reviewed over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth of the German badges in the collector's market is illustrated.

This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of MilitaryItems.com, a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?
  1. FAQ's
  2. Iron Cross Anatomy
  3. Identifying fakes and reproductions
  4. RZM manufacturing codes
  5. LDO manufacturing codes
  6. Construction materials
  7. Pins, hinges and other
  8. Perspective view
  9. Purchasing a WWII German Combat badge






HOW THE IRON CROSS WAS PRESENTED
The Iron cross was usually issued in a paper envelope. It could be blue or beige in color. It had a printed words in the front along with the date of 1939, which is the date when the award was adopted by the Third Reich.

The award was also issued on a box. Although this was not a common occurance. The photo to the right illustrates what the box looks like.

The Iron Cross was first introduced in 1813 to reward Prussian troops who were engaged in combat with France and Napoleon. The actual documentation for the award was issued on March 20th 1813. The original intent was to make the cross a campaign award. It was supposed to replace other state awards such as the Pour le Merit.



The German Iron Cross

The "Military minute" is a series of instructional videos created by MilitaryItems.com for the purpose of providing basic information about military collectibles. The idea is to expose people to the exciting world of military collectibles.

The video presentation coupled with detailed photographs and written information, including a military collectible's price guide, enhances the visitor's experience.

Whether you are a long time collector, a beginner or simply have an interest in the history and value of each collectible, we hope that you find the information presented here useful.





COLLECTING IRON CROSSES
Collecting Third Reich memorabilia is a field that has been growing since the days the GI's rummaged around Europe bringing back military souvenirs. German soldiers wore many of their awards on their uniforms when they went to battle. Once the soldier was killed or captured, the American soldiers would take the awards as war trophies. Eventually all these pieces came back to the United States where military history enthusiasts began to collect them.

"I am trying to figure out if I should get into collecting Infantry Assault badges."


Determining which military badges to collect can be a challenging decision. The combination of availabiilty and cost will often set the pace of what can be collected.

The adjacent table outlines some of the advantages and disadvantages of collecting the Infantry Assault badge.



This award is currently being reproduced. It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style and materials employed in the manufacturing of this badge. Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine the authenticity of the badge.



If you have an interest is seeing other badges and awards of the Third Reich, you can do so by going to our WWII German Badges and Awards identification guide. Where we cover Heer (Army), Navy (Kriegsmarine) and Air Force (Luftwaffe) items.







PRICING GUIDE INFORMATION

The value for WWII German Combat badges and other military antiques and collectibles is provided as a means to educate the collector community and individuals who have a general interest on the field. The following is an estimated value. Prices may vary in every state and every country. This service is provided courtesy of MilitaryItems.com. The source for military antiques and collectibles in the web.

Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Value $70.00 $8.00 $90.00 $90.00 $100.00 $110.00 $110.00 $125.00 $125.00 $140.00 $110.00 $110.00
Availability Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common Common
Invest Grade B B B B B B B B B B B B


While the item featured here is not for sale, similar items like it are available for purchase in our website MilitaryItems.com


  MARKET ANALYSIS
Jan 2nd, 2017
Iron Crosses are well liked by collectors. The condition of this cross is not the best. The value is likely to increase slowly.


 
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