Iron Cross Second Class, 1939

Iron Cross Second Class, 1939, with original ribbon. Unnamed as issued.

The Iron Cross (in First, Second and Grand Cross Classes) was first introduced by Kaiser Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia in 1813, as a special gallantry award for the duration of the war then being waged with France. Following this precedent, successive leaders of Prussia, and later of the unified German state, reinstituted the award in time of war. The Iron Cross 1813 was succeeded by the Iron Cross 1870 (Franco-Prussian War), the Iron Cross 1914 (First World War) and the Iron Cross 1939 (Second World War). All versions feature the original date of institution '1813' on the reverse lower arm, with the later date of introduction on the obverse lower arm. The Iron Cross 1939 also features, on the obverse, a Nazi swastika in the centre. Earlier ribbons had been black and white stripes, the national colours of Prussia, but the 1939 award has a broad central stripe of red, to conform with the colours of Nazi Germany. This Iron Cross Second Class, 1939, is believed never to have been issued, but was collected in North Africa by a member of the South African forces, and bought back to Bloemfontein as a souvenir.