The German Cross for Bravery

[stewy]

My latest. Stewy

[Dave]

The background is field grey. I believe these were designed for vehicle crews where the metal "fried egg" would hook up and stop rapid exit.I have seen black for Panzer crews and KM blue for U Boots. I suppose this would be for Stug crews.

[stewy]

Dave, i have a very interesting Stug pic for you. I'll post tomorrow. Stewy

[Kenny Andrew]

Here's my Panzer version

[stewy]

That's a cracker Kenny. This is my only example,i don't like them sufficiently to spend IAB money on a metal version . Stewy

[Kenny Andrew]

Here's a nice metal version we got in today.The German Cross in Gold was awarded to military personnel for exceptional acts of bravery or achievement in combat.Maker marked 20 for C F Zimmerman of Pforzheim.This is the makers light weight version weighing approximately 45 grammes.Text book example of a very rare award in excellent condition.

[Kenny Andrew]

Here's a nice German Cross in Gold by Deschler we sold today, with soldiers name to reverse and the town Luneburg.We managed to find four recipients named Link so he is one of the soldiers listed below.

[Fritz]

The cloth version existed in fieldgrey, navy blue and Luftwaffe blue (as well as black for the Panzer uniform). These were worn on the field uniforms and one could be purchased for each tunic. The metal version was awarded once only to each recipient and was the "original". Just the same as ribbon bars being worn instead of the real decorations. Much too unpractical to wear in the field and too precious.

[Buster]

That a beautiful piece Kenny, and nice that its Been personalised! Do you often get these in stock? I will have to make do with a repro one! Well until I win the lottery or sell a kidney (PSST! is anyone in the market for one lol)

[Kenny Andrew]

Thanks Buster, they don't turn up that often , we seem to get a nice one every couple of years but it is unusual to find a named one

[Fritz]

As time goes on, they will, like everything else, get less and less.......

I remember in the early 70s, Peer Hill-Jackson, a nordic looking youth, who often travelled to Germany, offered Chris Farlowe a pair of mint Generals Collar Patches and a Deutsches Kreuz in Gold, cloth version on fieldgrey backing - the lot for a fiver, which Chris forked out - baff! Won't get that any more.

N.B.; He didn't offer them to anyone else, and all of a sudden.....

 

And just to boot I remember buying my first Wehrmacht tunic from Peer Hill-Jackson and Tom Stubbs in Portobello Road, an M.36 fieldblouse with a darkgreen longpointed collar, absolutely mint! But stripped of insignia, which was an issue example in good rough serge, still with the stich marks, where the insignia once was (from good old Austria) - cost only six pounds! Which was a fortune in those days - for me anyway, at 15 years of age. I still remember the makers stamp: "Ostmark Uniformen Werner Backofen". A remarkable tunic, which I unfortunatly parted with some years later! Why? Never seen such a cracker since.

[Kenny Andrew]

That's what happens, I still remember my first Iron Cross cost me £6 and a beautiful Mg42 ammo tin in mint condition that my pals grandfather brought back from the war,I used to house my entire collection in it when I first started, both items long gone now.

[Buster]

That's what happens, I still remember my first Iron Cross cost me £6 and a beautiful Mg42 ammo tin in mint condition that my pals grandfather brought back from the war,I used to house my entire collection in it when I first started, both items long gone now.

 

My first iron cross was £10 from a dealer in the Barras, I also got a colt 1911 boyt manufactured holster for £3 , it had the guys name inside ( Jarron ). you would be very lucky to get any of these items for £100 each now