This is an authentic WW2 (Nazi Germany) German Cross in Gold by Deschler & Sohn. It was awarded to military personnel to recognize repeated acts (6-8) of bravery or exceptional command in combat. It was the second highest military decoration, second only to the Knights Cross and its subsequent grades. It took on the form of an eight-point star (not actually a cross) resembling some of the former breast awards of the Imperial era.
It required prior possession of the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Classes. It was worn on the right breast pocket above other decorations. The embroidered (Stoffausführung) German Cross in Gold variation was authorized for wear in as an alternative to the badge in June 1942.
Description:
Constructed of tombac with a double-overlaid sunburst pattern with eight points, the center with a black enameled rotated (mobile) swastika, with the enamels well preserved, within a stamped gilded circular wreath impressed with oak leaves, ribbons, and the introduction year 1941. The inner and outer sides of the wreath feature a thin red enameled rings with a silver core in the middle. The reverse: Four rivets with a slender vertical pinback, with a sheet metal hinge and a C-shaped catch.
Historical Description: The German Cross in Gold was instituted on September 28th, 1941. The German High Command saw it necessary to create an award which would bridge the gap between the Iron Cross First Class and the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. Once instituted, the German Cross became Germany’s second highest military decoration, second only to the Knights Cross and its subsequent grades. The German Cross was similar to the Knights Cross in regards that the award was not based off of any previous awards in German history. It was a unique creation which also ended with the war. There were approximately 26,000 recipients of the German Cross in Gold. This number, however, does not reflect the total amount of German Crosses produced.
The award came in two forms, a metal version and a cloth version. The metal version being the most complex of the two, it consisted of five separate pieces being fitted and held together using four to twelve rivets depending on who the manufacturer was. The cloth version follows the exact same design as the metal produced version except the entire cross is cloth with the exception of the laurel wreath still being metal.
