Large bronze cross pattée with bifurcated ends to the arms, with crossed swords between the arms, the arms with stippled ground, with lateral loop for ribbon suspension; the face with a circular central medallion bearing a cross gammée within a raised border of oak leaves; the reverse with a circular central medallion bearing the date ‘1939’; on original ribbon. The Cross was instituted on 18 October 1939 by the then German Führer and Reichs-Chancellor ‘Als Zeichen der Anerkennung für Verdienste in dem uns aufgezwungenen Krieg, die keine Würdigung durch das Eiserne Kreuz finden können’ (As a token of recognition for merit in the war that has been forced upon us that does not qualify for the Iron Cross). This good example is from prior to Spring 1942, later examples being manufactured in a variety of alloys.
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