Original German WWI – WWII Medal & Award Grouping – 5 Awards Original Items

Original Items: Only One Set Available. This is a very nice collection of German WWI & WWII Medals and awards, which was brought back from the European theater by a USGI after the war was concluded. These were owned by a German soldier who fought during WWI, and also may have served post war under the Weimar republic. They definitely were still performing services to the country during WWII, resulting in a 40 Year Faithful Civil Service award.

This lovely set includes:

– One Pre-WWI IV German Singers’ Festival (IV Deutches Sängerbundesfest) Graz 1902 badge. This ornate badge is from the 6th German Chorus Singing and Instrumental Music fest, held in the city of Graz in 1902.  It was a huge event with over 22,000 Chorus clubs and orchestras taking part. Most likely the owner of this was there as a child.

– One Imperial German WWI Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse, or EKII) with the correct black and white ribbon. The most iconic of all German Military awards, first established by Frederick William in 1813 for gallantry in action, the decoration was revived several times for later conflicts. The basic design of the WW1 crosses is a central cross patee struck from iron and mounted in a silver frame which has a raised crenulated decorative border. The obverse of the cross bears the date 1914 under the crowned W monogram of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The reverse has the correct crowned FW monogram for Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III, over a sprig of Oak Leaves, with 1813 at the bottom.

Please also note the edge seam for authentication, which is not present on reproductions. Iron crosses were commonly constructed from an iron core sandwiched in a surrounding two part silver frame, normally the seam of these two silver parts is visible around the edge of the cross as is seen on this fine example.

– One German WWI Veterans Field of Honor Badge from Hamburg, Germany. These were presented to all German WWI Veterans during the 1920s. The center of the badge features an oval with a nicely detailed soldier dressed for battle, swords are crossed behind the oval and surrounding it is a sunburst-like shape with a white enameled cross in the center. The reverse of the badge reads DEUTSCHES FELD-EHREN-ZEICHEN (German Field Mark of Honor) E.O. HAMBURG 11.

– One German WWI Honor Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (Hindenburg Cross) Medal with Crossed Swords with ribbon. The Honor Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (German: Das Ehrenkreuz des Weltkriegs 1914/1918), is commonly, but incorrectly, known as the Hindenburg Cross. It was established by Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg, President of the German Republic, by an order dated 13 July 1934, to commemorate the distinguished deeds of the German people during the First World War. It was awarded with Swords for Combat actions, and without swords for Civil contributions.

– One German WWII 1st Class 40 Year Civil Service Faithful Service Medal in Case by Deschler & Sohn. The Civil Service Faithful Service Medal (Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen für Beamte Angestellte und Arbeiter im öffentlichen Dienst) was a NSDAP Germany medal of honor that was founded on 30 January 1938, in two grades, to reward civilians and military in the employ of the German public services for long and faithful service. 

A wonderful totally genuine grouping perfect for the WWI & WWII German collector.