Germany, Wehrmacht. A War Merit Cross I Class with Swords and Case, by Julius Bauer Söhne

(Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse mit Schwertern und Etui). Constructed of silvered tombak, consisting of a Maltese Cross with crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse with pebbled arms and a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse with a raised barrel hinge and flattened vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch, the pinback maker marked with Präsidialkanzlei code “43” for Julius Bauer Söhne, Zella Mehlis, measuring 48.08 mm (w) x 47.67 mm (h), weighing 22.7 grams, accompanied by its original presentation case, constructed of a light wooden frame with a faux black leather exterior liner, the lid bearing a silvered depiction of the award, the interior with a white rayon lid liner and intact hinge cover, with a slotted black felt medal bed, unmarked, measuring 66 mm (w) x 66 mm (l) x 20 mm (h), demonstrating minor material fatigue to the case, in overall extremely fine condition.