Germany, Third Reich; Imperial. A Mixed Lot of Awards

(Auszeichnungen). A mixed lot of awards, including:

1. Two War Merit Medals, each constructed of bronze, on loops for suspension from period original ribbons, the obverses bearing raised Maltese Crosses with pebbled arms and wreathed mobile swastikas, the reverses bearing inscriptions of “FÜR KRIEGSVERDIENST 1939” (“FOR WAR MERIT 1939”), both unmarked, measuring 32.26 mm in diameter, and weighing 13.9 grams, in near mint condition.

2. A War Merit Cross II Class with Swords, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, consisting of a Maltese Cross with pebbled arms and with crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse bearing a wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing a wreathed date of “1939”, unmarked, measuring 48.37 mm (w) x 49.32 mm (h), weighing 22.4 grams, in better than very fine condition.

3. An Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918 for Combatants, constructed of bronzed magnetic metal, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, consisting of a Cross Pattée with crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse bearing wreathed dates “1914-1918”, the reverse maker marked with the logo of an unidentified manufacturer, measuring 37.53 mm (w) x 43.36 mm (h), weighing 15.0 grams, in near extremely fine condition.

4. A West Wall Medal, constructed of bronzed zink, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, consisting of a double-sided oval oak leaf wreath, the obverse bearing a pillbox topped by a crossed sword and shovel and a German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing an inscription of “FR ARBEIT ZUM SCHUTZE DEUTSCHLANDS” (“FOR WORK IN THE PROTECTION OF GERMANY”), unmarked, measuring 33.37 mm (w) x 45.49 mm (h), weighing 14.6 grams, in near extremely fine condition.

5. A 1914 Iron Cross II Class, 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 suspension loop stamped with a maker’s mark of “KO” for a widely-documented but unidentified manufacturer, measuring 42.94 mm (w) x 48.05 mm (h), weighing 16.9 grams, demonstrating extensive deterioration to the core which renders most features illegible, in addition to moisture-driven bleeding of the ribbon colour, in poor condition.

6. A Freikorps fraternity medal, constructed of gilded and silvered bronze, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, unmarked, measuring 36 mm (w) x 36 mm (h), in extremely fine condition.

7. A War Commemorative Medal of 1870/71 for Combatants, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, unmarked, measuring 30.11 mm in diameter, weighing 12.4 grams, in better than very fine condition.