Germany, Third Reich. A Social Welfare Decoration, I Class, by Otto Schickle

(Ehrenzeichen für deutsche Volkspflege I. Klasse). Instituted 1 May 1939. (1939-1944 issue). Constructed of gilded bronze with multi-coloured enamels, consisting of a Geneva Cross with white enameled arms, the obverse bearing a central black enameled German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika with feathering highlighted in gilt, the twelve o’clock arm topped by a ribbed suspension ring bearing two oak leaves, in turn connecting to a period original shortened length of neck ribbon, the suspension loop maker marked with LDO code “L/15” for Otto Schickle, Pforzheim, measuring 52.82 mm (w) x 57.64 mm (h), weighing 40.1 grams, flecking is visible to the enamels of both the cross and eagle with additional fine surface cracks evident to the latter, in very fine condition.