This is an authentic 1957 post-WW2 German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz) version of the World War II military decoration. Following World War 2, West Germany banned the public display of Nazi imagery. On July 26, 1957, the West German government authorized de-Nazified replacement awards allowing veterans serving in the newly formed Bundeswehr to wear their legally earned wartime decorations.
The design modification of this specific "1957 variant", replaced the prominent center swastika from the wartime medal & replaced it with an Iron Cross featuring an oak leaf cluster. The iconic multi-layered, eight-point sunburst design and the gold-plated laurel wreath remain intact.
The original German Cross was introduced in 1941 to bridge the gap between the Iron Cross First Class and the Knight's Cross. 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.
Description:
The decoration features a silver starburst base, a gold-plated laurel wreath ring, and a black enamel Iron Cross in the center. The reverse: Four rivets with a slender vertical pinback, with a sheet metal hinge and a C-shaped catch.
Historical Description: The original 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.
