Germany, Wehrmacht. A Medal Bar for a Second World War Combatant, by Stempel Reich, with Ribbon Bar

(Ordensschnalle mit Bandschnalle). A medal bar for a Second World War combatant featuring three decorations, including:

1. A 1939 Iron Cross II Class, constructed of iron and silver, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon, consisting of a Cross Pattée with a blackened magnetic iron core within a ribbed silver frame, the obverse with a central mobile swastika, the six o’clock arm with a reinstitution date of “1939”, the reverse six o’clock arm with an initial institution date of “1813”, without visible marks, measuring 44.26 mm (w) x 47.26 mm (h), in near extremely fine condition.

2. A War Merit Cross II Class with Swords, constructed of bronzed zink, on loop for suspension with 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”, without visible marks, measuring 49.83 mm (w) x 50.39 mm (h), demonstrating near-total loss of bronze finish, in very fine condition.

3. A Sudetenland Medal, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon pinned with Prague Castle Bar, the obverse bearing two raised figures, one of which is clutching a flag and the other a length of broken chain, above a German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing a central raised date of “1. OKTOBER 1938”, circumscribed by an inscription of “EIN VOLK, EIN REICH, EIN FÜHRER” (“ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION, ONE LEADER”), unmarked, measuring 32.12 mm in diameter, in near extremely fine condition.

All suspended from a 95 mm-long non-magnetic metal bar with a horizontal pinback and green wool liner, retaining an intact maker’s label reading “STEMPEL REICH, BRESLAU” for the former firm of Max Reich, in extremely fine condition.

Accompanied by a ribbon bar featuring two decorations, including a War Merit Cross II Class with Swords and a Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar, affixed to a 30 mm-long zink bar with a horizontal pinback, in near extremely fine condition.