Iron Cross First Class Alois Rettenmaier / replaced core?

[novara]

Hello,

I have recently bought this award. As far as I see, this is a 1939 pattern First Class from Alois Rettenmaier (L59).

I am speculating, is that possible that the veteran simply had the core replaced instead of having the swastika grinded off?

Has anyone seen such an example?

Thanks.

Andrew

[Nigel N]

That's a strange one Andrew!!!
It looks like the original core has been replaced with the reversed core of an EK2, a couple of the photo's seem to show a larger than normal gap between the frames??
-Nigel

[novara]

Thanks Nigel. Indeed, it seems they replaced the core. That is why I thought that this could be a pre 1957 conversion, this looks much more civilised than grinding off the swastika.

[Tony T-S]

But isn’t this just a fake 1813? This isn’t a denazified piece surely. Makes no sense at all.

[Nigel N]

The original 1813 EK's had a blank core Tony!!!
-Nigel

[Tony T-S]

Yes I remembered that after the post and have only just come back to it. Makes this even stranger. If you have the cross apart then why not just carefully remove the swaz and repaint without the beading in the way, why the 1813 date? In any case a very interesting cross.

[Robert J.D.]

It could be purely political for the veteran who wore it, identifying more with Prussia during this earlier time? A very interesting cross! It was certainly very special to its owner.

Rob

[novara]

Thanks for all the comments. For me it somehow makes sense that if someone did not want to the swastika to be removed, this was the only option to replace the core to.

Anyways an interesting piece indeed, does not seem more unique than putting oak leaves to hide the swastika shown on the Sedlatzek thread....