German Cross in Gold Maker Marked 20 

The War Order of the German Cross, normally abbreviated to the German Cross or Deutsches Kreuz, was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 28 September 1941. It was awarded in two divisions: in gold for repeated acts of bravery or military leadership and in silver for distinguished non-combat war service. The German Cross in Gold ranked higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross, while the German Cross in Silver ranked higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords. There were approximately 26,000 recipients of the German Cross in Gold, and 2,500 recipients of the German Cross in Silver.

This is a five piece, die struck construction badge with black and red enamel work. The cross features a double, overlaid, eight point, sunburst pattern with the top sunburst layer. The center of the sunburst pattern has a separate silver washed, circular panel with a raised, black enameled swastika encompassed by an embossed, fire gilted, stamped alloy laurel leaf wreath with the impressed introduction date, “1941”, to the bottom on a red enamel base. The solid reverse features four, dome headed retaining rivets, a soldered barrel type hinge on a base plate inset in a recess. A heavy pin and a heavy soldered, catch on an oval base plate, inset into an oval recess all intact. The reverse of the pin is well marked with the faint, impressed, manufacturer’s numerical code, “20”, indicating manufacture by “C. F. Zimmerman, Pforzheim”. The cross is very nicely engraved to the reverse: “Souvenier of Germany.” We can only speculate when this engraving whas made, during the war by an allied soldier or post war by an antique store dealer. Never the less, the engraving is very well made and is now apart of this cross history. The cross weight is about 56g.

The cross shows a nice age patina all over. The swastika enamel is fully intact. The swastika itself is a bit loose, it rattle a bit but it’s nothing major at all, there is no risk the swastika is about to fall of from the cross. All in all a very nice cross with a nice age patina.

Very nice German Cross in Gold!! 

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