ManufacturingA look at the making of the Iron Cross 2nd ClassA detail view at makers and characteristics of this class 1st ClassA detail view at makers and characteristics of this class Clasps of the CrossA study of the 1939 Clasps presented to those that had earned the 1914 Iron Cross DocumentsDocuments of the first two classes CasesCases of the first two classes RecipientsRecipients stories and wear gallery Iron Cross IndexBack to the Main Iron Cross Chapter

by Sebastián J. Bianchi

The cases of the Iron Cross varied depending on its class and status;  those pieces intended for retail sale generally had a much more ornate presentation than those crosses which were to officially be awarded by the Wehrmacht.  Thus, the first home of a freshly manufactured cross ranged from a simple paper envelope to a decorated presentation box.  

There is evidence that indicates that cases and envelopes were subcontracted and thus, many manufacturers share characteristics.  

 Sebastián Bianchi collection

Iron Cross 2nd Class 

The Iron Cross 2nd Class was generally housed in two ways - in an envelope, or in a black leatherette case.   

Envelopes

Regulation Iron Cross 2nd Class was presented in envelopes that could be  either light brown or blue.  On the obverse the grade of the cross was printed in three lines "Eisernes Kreuz - 2, Klasse - 1939", and on the reverse the manufacturer was commonly imprinted (though as mentioned envelopes were likely manufactured by a subcontractor).  When untouched, the cross would come wrapped in tissue paper.  

 

 

Besides the above representative examples, the manufacturers below have pictures of Iron Crosses with envelopes.  

1	Deschler & Sohn	München
3	Wilhelm Deumer	Lüdenscheld
11	Grossmann & Co.	Wien
12	Frank & Reif	Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen
15	Friedrich Orth	Wien
21	Gebr. Godet & Co.	Berlin
24	Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Hanauer	Hanau am Main
25	Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Graveur-Gold-und Silverschmeide-Innungen	Hanau am Main
44	Jakob Bengel	Idar/Oberdonau
49	Josef Feix Söhne	Gablonz a.d.N.
56	Robert Hauschild	Pforzheim
65	Klein & Quenzer A.G.	Idar Oberstein
93	Richard Simm & Söhne	Gablonz a.d.N.
98	Rudolf Souval	Wien
106	Brüder Schneider A.G.	Wien
109	Walter & Hentein	Gablonz

 

A sampling of different lettering used on envelopes.  

Determining the authenticity of envelopes in the face of the fake onslaught is a challenge for every collector.  This is particularly so because of the great variation in them.  The black light test can be used as a tool, but a keen eye for detail is also a necessity.  An original envelope should have a coarse, raspy look to it, and should show its age.  

Cases

Cases of the Iron Cross 2nd Class also come in a variety of flavors.  One often encountered is the "standard" LDO box.  These are black leatherette boxes with the LDO logo imprinted on to the top lid and a felt tan base where the Iron Cross rests comfortably in a outlined depression.  The bottom can be stamped with the manufacturer name.  

 

 Sebastián Bianchi collection

 

Click on images to enlarge

 

The other cases of the 2nd class vary greatly.  One may encounter cases with the Iron Cross motif on the lid, some without, with ribbons and even some with room for a ribbon bar.  Since these are so eclectic, determining authenticity is a challenge that must be undertaken on an individual basis.

Iron Cross 2nd Class Ribbon Envelope

Below is an example of the rare Iron Cross ribbon envelope. 

Alan Pilch Collection

 

Clasp to the Iron Cross 2nd Class

The clasp that was attached to the ribbon of the 1914 Iron Cross  came packaged in two ways - an envelope, and a small LDO box.  A third option, an elaborate double/Spange presentation box, was also used for high ranking recipients. 

The envelope was in the same theme as the Iron Cross 2nd Class, having the name of the award in the front and the manufacturer's name in the back.  It is a rather rare envelope.  

 

LDO boxes used were light blue or brown in color.  They consisted of a topless box with a felt bottom that had a slide-on cover featuring the LDO emblem on the front and the maker's mark in the back.  The box slid in and out like a drawer.  A piece of Iron Cross 2nd Class 1914 was included at the bottom of the box as pictured below.

   

 Sebastián Bianchi collection

 

Iron Cross 1st Class Cases

  

The Iron Cross 1st class also came housed in an more luxurious manner - a black leatherette box with an Iron Cross motif on the upper lid.  Hinged on one side and operated with a push-button pin, the inside of the lid was covered with a white satin finish and the bottom with a black, tan or white felt material.  This bottom had a slit in which the pin of the cross rested.  

 

Within the general description above there is a great deal of variation.  The top part of the lid could be domed or flat, and the Iron Cross motif could have wide lines, small lines, be filled it, or not be present at all.  

Different cases of the Cross

Sebastián Bianchi collection

 

But even with these variations there are signatures that distinguish a World War II era box from a currently manufactured one.  With a little effort, the bottom of most cases comes out and reveals vital clues.  One very important indication and a point to be carefully examined is the glue, which should be animal glue (an adhesive made from animal hide, primarily cattle).  This has a different look from modern glues, which are synthetic in nature.  There are other clues, for example, cases are often encountered with a penciled number inside and the manufacturer's code (the maker of the case, not the cross).  A manufacturer mark regularly found is D&B surrounded by an oval.   Numbers are also found inside the cases, for example several identical cases in the author's collection have the numbers 2597 on the back of the base and the number 2420 on the base itself. 

Some degree of caution should always be exercised when a cross comes inside a box, because collectors can "marry" one and the other fairly easily.  

 

        

A Klein und Quenzer cross, and the inside of a box

Sebastián Bianchi collection

 

 

The Iron Cross when shipped from the factory came with an outer cardboard box, which was supposed to be given to the recipient.  In reality the box was often opened and discarded, making the outer protection of the case one of the most rare items in the realm of Iron Cross cases.  

The cardboard box had the name of the award (Eiserner Kreus 1. Klasse 1939) and the legend "Only to be opened by Recipient".  On the side, the name of the maker was printed.  

Sebastián Bianchi collection 

 

 

Spange to the Iron Cross 1st Class 1914

The Spange to the Iron Cross also came in a leatherette case with the award embossed on the top, or in an envelope.  The case and envelope shared many of the characteristics of the Iron Cross cases above.  

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