Original World War Two German Iron Cross First Class or Eisernes Kreuze I in German, or simply “EK1”.
Featuring a Die struck magnetic construction Patté style cross. Obverse of award features an embossed central canted swastika and re-institution date of "1939" to the bottom arm. Both the swastika and date are in nice high relief although there is chipping. Plain reverse. Solid soldered hinge, broad, thick tapered vertical pin and war-time repaired heavy soldered catch.
In 1813, Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III established the Iron Cross as a temporary award for combat during times of war. Originally, the Iron Cross had three grades: a Grand Cross for Senior Commanders who successfully led troops, and First and Second classes for all ranks who showed bravery or merit in action. King Wilhelm I brought back the Iron Crosses on July 19th, 1870 to award during the Franco-Prussian War, and King Wilhelm II did the same for WWI on August 5th, 1914. Hitler later re-instituted the Iron Cross series and established the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on September 1st, 1939. The first class medal was awarded to personnel who displayed three to five acts of bravery in combat and had already received the Iron Cross second class.
