PLEASE HELP Award Document

[DKNYC71]

Dear Forum Members,

Has anyone seen one of these Iron Cross award documents before? It was folded at one point and the paper is actually a bit darker than what appears in this image. I was trying to see the stamp, but it has faded to time. I attempted to darken and sharpen the image.

All feedback and information would be much appreciated.

Regards,
Dave.

[DKNYC71]

2

2

[Forssmann]

Kinda hard to say without having it in hand. There wasnt really a standard format for these documents. You'll see some common formats, uncommon formats, some were even hand written on a blank piece of paper. I like to see the unit stamp, but what is strange is the grid line looking stuff where all the info has been entered on the document, including the stamp. Dont know how those would get there, one might assume a transfer of some sort? Again, hard to tell, but I would probably add it to my collection

[VtwinVince]

This particular format has been faked in large numbers in recent years. That and the very early date for award of an EK1 to a junior officer are obvious red flags.

[DKNYC71]

Thank you very much gents! I thought there maybe something wrong with this document, which is why I posted it for opinion. I will clearly pass on it. What struck me a bit odd was the absence of a first name for the recipient, also the EK rendition on top is very crude, something which I imagine would not be the case on an original.

[Willi Z.]

Fake without a doubt.

[Chip M]

The document is for an EKII, not an EKI. Not that it makes any difference to the legitimacy of the document, but it does negate one of the complaints.

[Green]

I have a little tip to see if a document is genuine or not.

Hold the document against the light. They are usually provided with a paper watermark

[Green]

These are two certificates for the EK II & EK I. I hold the documents against the light and the paper factory watermarks are clearly to see!

[ATTACH]4401467[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]4401468[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]4401469[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]4401470[/ATTACH]

[tompress]

Nice. This paper is from the factory J. H. Eppen in Winsen an der Luhe.

But missing watermark must be not evidence of falsificate. This type of watermark, called NORMAL, was present only in a few positions of big paper sheet, so many paper pieces of same sheet were w/o watermark.

regards
Tomasz

[Green]

Nice. This paper is from the factory J. H. Eppen in Winsen an der Luhe.

But missing watermark must be not evidence of falsificate. This type of watermark, called NORMAL, was present only in a few positions of big paper sheet, so many paper pieces of same sheet were w/o watermark.

regards
Tomasz

You are right off course, missing watermark is not evidence of falsificate, but that is why I wrote "little tip". It is just one of those things who are worth knowing!

Thanks in any case for the addition

[Brian R]

I don't see any reason to think this is a fake award document. Pioneer Regiment No. 25 did exist at this time and was engaged in attacking enemy fortresses.

These are tough ones to judge in that this is a 1917 dated document for a 1914 award. This was very common and the awarding authority may or may not have any connection with the actual regiment and its actions from almost three years earlier.