Germany, Wehrmacht. A War Merit Cross I Class, by Karl Gschiermeister

(Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse). Constructed of silvered tombak, consisting of a Maltese Cross, the obverse with pebbled arms, bearing a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse with a raised barrel hinge and tapering vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch, the pinback maker marked with Präsidialkanzlei code “50” for Karl Gschiermeister, Vienna, measuring 48.34 mm (w) x 48.09 mm (h), weighing 17.1 grams, with minor scratching and loss of finish evident, in very fine condition.