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WWII GERMAN IRON CROSS 1st CLASS -
The Iron Cross has long been held as a symbol for bravery in combat, The Germans have been employing it as an award since the 1800's. The Iron Cross employed during WWII is very similar to that used in 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

The Cross was instituted on September 1st 1939.

There are three basic variations. The first design is the one covered here. A second design came with slightly convex arms (Produced by Godet and Son of Berlin). The third design was produced for use by the Navy. This cross has a Brass core which was chemically blackened.

There is a cloth version of the award. It came in a few different variations. The construction was very high quality. The front has the appearance of the Iron Cross. The back is plain and often covered in paper. It is possible that these items were private purchase. The actual reason for their creation is not certain. It makes sense that they would be worn in occassions where the metal version would be too cumbersome.





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, 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 award was issued in a box with a certificate. Additional accoutrements such as ribbons could be obtained and were authorized for wear by the recipient of the Iron Cross.



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














BY THE NUMBERS
It is hard to determine the exact number of Iron Crosses that were produced. However, thanks to the record keeping maintained by the Wehrmacht, it is possible to find how many crosses were actually issued.



The actual number of Iron Crosses produced is greater than the number that was issue. It must be accounted that the armed forces would have a stock in hand so it could replace lost ones and issue new awards. In addition the factories were likely to have warehouses with inventory at hand. The Iron Cross was one of the awards most widely distributed during WWII.

The population of Germany in 1939 was approximately 64,000,000.





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 $145.00 $150.00 $150.00 $160.00 $180.00 $200.00 $250.00 $300.00 $350.00 $400.00 $450.00 $500.00
Availability Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Rare Rare Rare Rare Rare Rare
Invest Grade A A A A A A A A A A A A


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 1st, 2017
Iron Crosses in general are well liked by collectors. This example is in very good condition. Paint shows small amount of bubbling. The back shows patina. Manufacturer marked (6). Complete with the box. The value will go up over time.


 
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