Germany, Wehrmacht. A Mixed Lot of War Merit Decorations

(Kriegsverdienstkreuze). A mixed lot of War Merit decorations, including:

1. A War Merit Medal, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, the obverse bearing a raised Maltese Cross with pebbled arms and a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing a raised inscription of “FÜR KRIEGSVERDIENST 1939” (“FOR WAR MERIT 1939”), unmarked, measuring 32.27 mm in diameter, weighing 13.6 grams, in extremely fine condition.

2. A War Merit Cross II Class, constructed of bronzed zink, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, consisting of a Maltese Cross with pebbled arms, the obverse bearing a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing a central wreathed date of “1939”, unmarked, measuring 48.98 mm (w) x 48.96 mm (h), weighing 14.4 grams, in extremely fine condition.

3. 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 central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing a central wreathed date of “1939”, unmarked, measuring 48.86 mm (w) x 48.36 mm (h), weighing 26.3 grams, in extremely fine condition.

4. A War Merit Cross I Class, constructed of silvered tombak, consisting of a Maltese Cross, the obverse with pebbled arms and a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse with a block hinge and tapering vertical pinback meeting a round wire catch, the pinback maker marked with a partially-legible LDO code of “L/15” for Otto Schickle, Pforzheim, measuring 47.73 mm (w) x 47.78 mm (h), weighing 19.8 grams, demonstrating replacement of the catch with loss of finish throughout the reverse of the reverse six o’clock arm exposing the tombak base, an interesting example demonstrating Schickle’s noted die flaws in very fine condition.