Germany, Wehrmacht. A Rare Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords, in Silver, by Deschler & Sohn

(Ritterkreuz des Kriegsverdienstkreuzes mit Schwertern). Instituted 18 October 1939. (1940-1945 issue). Constructed of silver, consisting of a Maltese Cross with pebbled arms, with a pair of crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse bearing a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing a central wreathed date of “1939”, the twelve o’clock arm topped by two ribbed bars which converge on an integral loop connecting to a suspension ring, the former retaining a period original full length of neck ribbon, the six o’clock arm stamped with a Präsidialkanzlei code of “1” indicating manufacture by Deschler & Sohn, Munich, alongside a silver content number of “900”, measuring 53.24 mm (w) x 58.56 mm (h), weighing 39.1 grams, a scarce and high-quality example in near mint condition.