Original German WWI - WWII Award and Insignia Grouping with 1914 EKII, Eastern Medal, and More - 10 Items

Original Items: Only One Set Available. This is a very nice collection of German WWI & WWII Awards and Insignia, which was brought back from the European theater by a USGI after the war was concluded. Many solders traded these on the way back, and would end up with a pocket full of various different collectible items, and this set represents the typical "haul" one might have come back with. It includes a nice WWI Iron Cross 1914 Second class, as well as awards and insignia from the WWII period.

This lovely set includes:

- One Imperial German WWI Iron Cross 1914 2nd Class Medal (Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse 1918), missing ribbon. It is maker marked HW (or MH) on the ring, which we were not able to identifiy. There is some age to the paint and oxidation, but the silver is still present, with a lovely tarnished patina. The central core is loose inside the frame, with the paint relatively well retained.

- One Bavarian WWI Fireman's 25 Year Long Service Medal (Feuerwehr Ehrenzeichen für 25-jährige Dienstzeit), without ribbon. These were issued during the WWI Era to Bavarian firefighters with 25 years of service. It is in very good condition, with the original black finish still relatively well retained.

- One Pre-WWII German WWI Honor Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (Hindenburg Cross) Medal with Swords (for Combat). This example is in very good condition, though the ribbon is missing. It is marked on the back with L. / NBG..

- One German WWII Eastern Front Medal (Ostmedaille). The medal still retains the top hanger ring, though the ribbon is no longer present. It shows a lovely oxidized patina, looking to have lost almost all the original paint.

- One German WWII Civil Service Faithful Service Medal 2nd Class with ribbon. The second class award for 25 years of service was a silver cross, with a silver wreath and a black enameled swas in the center of the cross. The medal still looks great, showing just a bit of oxidation, and the ribbon is in great shape, with a nice installed attachment pin.

- One German WWII Kriegsmarine Oberfeuerwerkermaat (Armorers Mate 2nd Class) Embroidered Ratings Badge. This features a navy blue backing with gold embroidered insignia. There is an anchor with crossed cannons on top of it, and large gear on top of that. There is a chevron underneath, indicating a 2nd Class Petty Officer. Condition is very good, showing just a bit of fraying.

- One German WWII Reichsbahn BeVO Embroidered Sleeve Eagle. It has the correct left-facing eagle in gold yellow thread on a black backing, and has not been installed on a uniform, though it does show some damage from being folded repeatedly.

- One German WWII Kriegsmarine Field Gray Uniform Obergefreiter Sleeve Chevrons. These are the correct gold tresse and have a green background. This is the type that would be worn by coastal artillery personnel.

- One German WWII Heer Army BeVo Army Breast Eagle. It is a 1939 pattern eagle with a dark bottle green base and gray threading. This definitely was installed on a uniform, and has the wear to match.

- One German WWII Reichsbahn Collar Tab. This features a velvet plush material background bearing golden winged wheel, with red piping.

A wonderful totally genuine grouping perfect for the German Medal and Insignia collector. Ready to research and display!

More information on some of the awards in this set:

German WWI Prussian Iron Cross 2nd Class:
Established by Frederick William in 1813 for gallantry in action, the decoration was revived several times for later conflicts. The bulk of the issues are divided into 1st and 2nd class versions, but a rare and superior 'Grand Cross' was also awarded for successful field commanders. During WW1 the lower decoration was freely awarded with 5½ million second class types issued. Originally, the Iron Cross was an award of the Kingdom of Prussia, however given Prussia's pre-eminent place in the German Empire formed in 1871, it became an award for all of Germany.

The basic design of the WW1 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 1914 under a crowned 'W' monogram. Reverse bears an oak leaf cluster with the date of the decoration’s institution, 1813 underneath - the crowned initials of Frederick William are in the top arm above the oak leaf cluster. Suspension for second-class types is by means of a ring, and frequently this ring bears a maker's stamp.

Please examine 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.

Hindenburg Cross with Crossed Swords (for combat):
The Honor Cross of the World War 1914/1918 (German: Das Ehrenkreuz des Weltkriegs 1914/1918), commonly, but incorrectly, known as the Hindenburg Cross 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. This was Germany's first official service medal for soldiers of Imperial Germany who had taken part in the war, and where they had since died it was also awarded to their surviving next-of-kin. Shortly after its issuance, the government of NSDAP Germany declared the award as the only official service decoration of the First World War and further forbid the continued wearing of German Free Corps awards on any military or paramilitary uniform of a state or NSDAP Party organization.

The Eastern Medal (Ostmedaille), officially the Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal (Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42), was a military award of the Wehrmacht which was created by ordinance of Adolf H on 26 May 1942.

The Eastern Medal was awarded to any member of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS "in recognition of experience in the struggle against the Bolshevik enemy and the Russian winter within the period from 15 November 1941 to 15 April 1942." It was also awarded posthumously to any service member who died in the line of duty within the Soviet Union. It was wryly called the Frozen Meat Medal or the "Order of the Frozen Flesh" (Gefrierfleischorden).

Faithful Civil Service Decoration First Class Cross for 25 Years of Service -  A fullsize frosted silver with an oak leaf wreath and black enameled Swas (hook cross) on original ribbon. 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.

All officials, employees, and laborers at any level of the public service (local, regional or national) who complete 25 or 40 years service were eligible. The second class award was for 25 years of service was a silver cross, with a silver wreath and a black enameled swas in the center of the cross. The first class award was for 40 years of service was a gold cross, with a gold wreath and a black enameled swas in the center of the cross.

The reverse of both classes was stamped with Für treue Dienste (For faithful Services). in German black letter typeface. The ribbon for the medal is cornflower blue.