Germany, Wehrmacht. A War Merit Cross I Class with Swords, by Julius Bauer & Söhne
(Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse mit Schwertern). Constructed of silvered tombak, consisting of a Maltese Cross with crossed swords piercing the centre, the obverse with pebbled arms 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 47.96 mm (w) x 48.10 mm (h), weighing 23.0 grams, with minor loss of finish evident, in near extremely fine condition.

