Original German WWII Iron Cross 1st Class 1939 Field Upgraded to Knight’s Cross with Original Ribbon – Ritterkreuz Original Items

Original Items: Only One Available. The German WWII ‘Knights Cross’ is one of the most iconic awards, seen in many pictures and movies around the necks of recipients. Most well-decorated command officers were not really considered notable until they had been received one for a successful campaign during WWII. As such, they would want to receive the award as soon as possible, and in some cases they were given a “Field Upgraded” version as a place holder until they received the official award.

What we have here is an original German WWII 1939 Iron Cross 1st Class, which has the pinback removed (remnants are still visible on the reverse), and then had a large “Knight’s Cross” style hanger loop installed through a hole added at the top. Threaded through the loop is an original Knight’s Cross neck ribbon, measuring 14 1/2 inches in length and 1 3/4 inches wide, with 6 3/4 inch gray extensions at each end.. This would very effectively have given the look of a true Ritterkreuz, and the rayon ribbon has a lovely aged look to it, with some overall light staining and wear. Please note that there are still pins in the ribbon, which were probably used to attach it to a mannequin for display.

The basic design of the WWII crosses is a central Tatzenkreuz (cross pattée) struck from iron and mounted in a silver frame which has a raised crenulated decorative border. The obverse of the cross bears the date 1939 under a “mobile” swas. Second class crosses would have a ring at the top where a ring was attached, and had more markings on the back. The first class award, however, was meant to attach directly to the front of the uniform.

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.

A lovely field upgraded Knight’s Cross, ready to fill a space in your collection!

The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), or simply the Knight’s Cross (Ritterkreuz), and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of NSDAP Germany during World War II.

The Knight’s Cross was awarded for a wide range of reasons and across all ranks, from a senior commander for skilled leadership of his troops in battle to a low-ranking soldier for a single act of military valor. Presentations were made to members of the three military branches of the Wehrmacht: the Heer (army), the Kriegsmarine (navy) and the Luftwaffe (air force), as well as the Waffen-SS, the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD—Reich Labor Service) and the Volkssturm (German national militia), along with personnel from other Axis powers.

The award was instituted on 1 September 1939, at the onset of the German invasion of Poland. A higher grade, the Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross, was instituted in 1940. In 1941, two higher grades of the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves were instituted: the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords and the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. At the end of 1944 the final grade, the Knight’s Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds, was created. Over 7,000 awards were made during the course of the war.