Germany, Wehrmacht. A Unissued War Merit Cross, I Class With Swords And Case, By Descheler & Son Auction Archive awarded for “maintaining comradery and

awarded for “maintaining comradery and friendship between veterans”

together with the inscription VIRTUTI ET MERITO

Stufe (Light Version)

Instituted on January 28

55mm (x82mm including crown suspension)

Germany, Wehrmacht. A Unissued War Merit Cross, I Class With Swords And Case, By Descheler & Son Auction Archive awarded for “maintaining comradery and(Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse mit Schwertern und Etui). Constructed of silvered tombak, consisting of a Maltese Cross with crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse with pebbled arms and a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse with a barrel hinge and banjo style pinback meeting a flat wire catch, the pinback maker marked with Prsidialkanzlei code 1 for Deschler & Sohn, Munich, measuring 48. 62 mm (w) x 48. 33 mm (h), weighing 23.