BACKGROUND: The War Merit Cross was instituted by Hitler on October 18TH 1939, in two classes with both classes issued, with and without swords, for award to military personnel and civilians, including females and foreigners, for exemplary service and/or bravery in Germany’s war effort, in a non-combatant role. The addition of swords to the award signified bravery while awards without swords were bestowed for service. On August 19TH 1940 the War Merit cross series of awards was expanded with the introduction of the Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross for award to personnel who had provided a substantial contribution to the war effort and the War Merit Medal for award to German nationals and foreign civilians who provided exceptional service to the war effort. The Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross followed the same basic design of the War Merit Cross’s, both with and without swords, but was only awarded in silver, was slightly larger then the earlier awards and was a neck decoration. The Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross ranked higher then the German Cross, but wasn’t as esteemed as the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. Regulation criteria for the award of the Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross stated that both the War Merit Cross 1ST and 2ND classes must already be held by the recipient. In a departure from the criteria for award of the War Merit Cross with swords the Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross with swords was awarded for bravery in combat. Hitler reserved the right to review all recommendations for bestowal of the Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross and only awards approved by him personally were to be rendered. The first issue of the Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross was rendered on May 20TH 1942 and a total of one hundred eighteen awards with swords and one hundred thirty-seven awards without swords were bestowed up to the end of the war. Of Note: In late 1944 Armaments Minister Albert Speer proposed the introduction of the Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross in gold to recognize extraordinary service to the war effort. Speer’s proposal gained Hitler’s approval but the award was never officially established although Speer personally awarded two Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross in gold, without swords on April 20TH 1945.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice, high quality, die struck silver alloy award is in the form of a Maltese style cross with a circular centerpiece with an embossed, canted, swastika encircled by a nicely detailed oak-leaf wreath to the obverse. The reverse circular centrepiece has the embossed date,"1939", also encompassed by a nicely detailed oak-leaf wreath. The background field of both the obverse and reverse centerpieces is smooth while the arms of the cross have a pebbled background field with raised, smooth, outer edges. The "face -on", ribbon suspension loop and vertically oval ring are both intact. The "face on" ribbon suspension loop is positioned on the top edge of the top arm of the cross by two, smooth, diagonally angled arms creating an inverted "V". The ribbon suspension ring is an elongated, slightly tapered, smooth, vertical oval and is inserted through the ribbon loop. The cross comes complete with a piece of original, vertically ribbed, rayon ribbon with miniature tie tapes handstitched to each end. The bottom edge of the bottom arm of the cross is well marked with stamped silver content, "900", and the manufacturers numerical code, "1", indicating manufacture by Deschler & Sohn München.