Germany, Wehrmacht. A 1939 Iron Cross II Class, with Recipient Letter, by Klein & Quenzer

(Eisernes Kreuz 1939 II. Klasse mit Brief). Reinstituted 1 September 1939. (1939-1945 issue). Constructed of iron and silver, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a blackened magnetic iron core within a ribbed silver frame, the obverse with a central mobile swastika, the six o’clock arm with a reinstitution date of “1939”, the reverse six o’clock arm with an initial institution date of “1813”, the suspension loop maker marked with Präsidialkanzlei code “65” for Klein & Quenzer, Idar-Oberstein, measuring 44.40 mm (w) x 48.08 mm (h), weighing 17.0 grams, notably accompanied by a typewritten letter, dated 7 January 1985 and issued from Munich with the letterhead of Gerhard Lahne, gifting the cross to the recipient, which he indicates he received on 17 July 1941 in the Dnieper region while serving with Heeres-Artillerie-Regiment 786, a fascinating and first-hand account of a veteran providing an item to an early collector in overall extremely fine condition.