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WWII GERMAN BADGE - WAR MERIT CROSS 1ST CLASS -

The War Merit Cross was issued on October 18th 1939. The creation of the award was dictated by Adolf Hitler in an attempt to reward people who assisted with the war effort but whose effort fell short of receiving the Iron Cross. This award was offered as a 1st and 2nd class. The 1st class cross was a pin-back while the 2nd class was not. The latter was the lower ranking award. The 1st class award came with and without swords. The swords represented bravery while not having swords represented service.



The award was presented in a black box. The image of the cross was painted on lid of the box. The box has a cut out where the cross would fit. The manufacturer of the award would usually place its brand in the inside of the lid.

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 award 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 awards 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. War Merit 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




Like many other German awards, this badge is reproduced today and may be pass as an authentic piece by unscrupulous dealers. It is important for the buyer to pay close attention to the construction of the badge before purchasing it. The following pictures provide some pointers on how to identify authentic pieces.

The picture on the left depicts what the back of the badge should look like. Notice that the picture on the right illustrates the construction of the latch. Notice how cleanly it is attached to the body of the badge. No excess solder should be present in this area.



The WWII War Merit 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, and anatomical breakdown of each piece 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.



The pin is also a very important component of the badge. This piece should also be cleanly attached to the body. The pictures below show the back and front of the latch. The last picture displays the number engraved on the pin.



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
Value $140.00 $150.00 $180.00 $200.00 $200.00
Availability Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium
Invest Grade B B B B B


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