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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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