Help identifying Cross

[T.K.M]

i got this from a Garage Sale today. Looks likesome sort of KvK, but i don#t know much about badges and medals.

So what's the worth of it. And what is it called?




Thanks in Advance,
TKM

[joelhall]

war merit cross. created for world war one vets under the third reich i believe. im not sure about in dollars but id expect to pay around £15-20 for one with the ribbon (at least the last time i checked i would).

[Ammersee]

After WW1, the Weimer gov't failed to reward the vets with an honor medal. In time, several were put out by vet groups, but weren't official. When your medal became the official WW1 vet medal in 1934, I believe the TR probably gained tons of good will from the WW1 vets for that small gesture.
Also, with the issuing of this medal, the parade mount business seemed to take off. Many vets had the EK2, and now could put this new cross with it on a parade mount. You see hundreds of parade mounts with the 1914 EK and your cross.
Ammrsee

[Steve Campbell]

That's right, so many medal bars have this medal on it, so you have to realize that they were all done after 1934 when this medal was issued. The EK2 and the Hindenburg cross as this is also known are a typical 2 peice combination The one shown here is the one with swords for combatants or frontfighters. There is also one without swords for non combattants who helped with the war effort and one that is painted black with no swords and reversed colors on the ribbon. This is for next of kin. These were also available in a fairly nice case. They also came with a small award document. These are one of the most common medals available and are not expensive. They may be the first awards issued by the Third Reich. Most of them seem to be maker marked, as is the one shown here and there is a list available that names the makers. Among the makers is famed firm Junker.