A Kreuz für Kriegshilfsdienst in real SILVER!

[JensF.]

I was lucky to get this one at ebay. Does someone know the history behind this variant? I read somewere these were for VIPs.

[JensF.]

"800" silver stamped in the ring.

[JensF.]

Back:

[Klaus O.]

Jens,

Very nice indeed! I have never such crosses in silver... interesting! You always find nice and rare items on ebay!

Ciao,

Claudio

[JensF.]

Thanks Claudio. There are three variants listed in the OEK catalog. Standart in zink and two rare variants in aluminium and silver.

[Rick Research]

You lucky dog! First I have ever seen of this listed variant.

Do you think it has been cleaned? Or are the edges polished and the inner surfaces frosted? I'm surprised no effort was made to chemically oxydize it to match the gray finish of the normal zink variety.

And here I've been pawing GRAY ones all these years looking for tiny silver hallmarks....

[JensF.]

And here I've been pawing GRAY ones all these years looking for tiny silver hallmarks....

I don't think that it was cleaned. Some parts are a little bit polished but the most of the cross has a very even finish.

[Fred Borgmann]

I don't think that it was cleaned. Some parts are a little bit polished but the most of the cross has a very even finish.

Looks great Jens! Have you weighed it and can you do a specific gravity test on it? That would determine if it is silver plated or solid silver. Fred

[JensF.]

Due the silver mark it should be real silver. The big and the small rings are both soldered and not open like the zinky one. And it is very heavy! A zink cross weights about 18,5 g, the silver cross about 25 g.

[Blitz]

Great find, Jens!

[Fred Borgmann]

Due the silver mark it should be real silver. The big and the small rings are both soldered and not open like the zinky one. And it is very heavy! A zink cross weights about 18,5 g, the silver cross about 25 g.

That is great Jens. The heavier weight is a confirmation that it is silver rather than just plated. Fred

[JensF.]

To complete this, here is the aluminium variant:

[JensF.]

Back. Weight is only 8 g!

[Eric Stahlhut]

I was waiting for that one.....



Nice crosses, Jens!

[Fred Borgmann]

Back. Weight is only 8 g!

I wonder if the aluminum version was an experimental trial piece? Fred