EKII Cross and Packet - Walter & Henlein

[hagwalther]

Hi Guys,

I picked up a nice looking EKII with a packet the other day and would like some opinion on the cross.

It looks good to me with some degree of frosting evident when viewed from the an angle.

Core is magnetic and it appears an early item as it is a bit of a rattler.

It is not maker marked so could have been mated to the packet at some stage.

Ribbon does not react to 'blacklight'

I have posted the packet on the packets forum for comment there.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=126145

Of interest, Walther & Henlein are not know makers of EKII's as per Gordons book - The Iron Cross of 1939, pages 69-73.

As such, has a another maker of Iron Crosses, second class, been identified?

Photos below.

Comments please ...

[hagwalther]

Rear view ...

[hagwalther]

Cross, ribbon and packet.

Better photos of the packet on

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=126145

[hagwalther]

Gee Guys,

I thought this thread would have generated a bit more interest - it's not every day that a new maker of the EKII is potentially identified.



However, the Packets and Cases blokes have given the package the thumbs up so thats good news.



Lets try and go one step further - re: mating to the packet - can anyone identify the cross as by ANY other known maker.

Regards ...

[hagwalther]

Looks like the EKII has not been identified as being made by any other maker.

As such then, I assume that the EKII was made by Walter and Henlein.

Any further comments please.

Regards ...

[George Stimson]

I think that since the EK appears to be unissued (i.e. is with a fresh ribbon) your assumption is reasonable.

[hagwalther]

Thanks George.

I'm a bit excited about this little set - can't be too many out there although Marcus also has the same set - well, if he can find the medal that is...



Regards ...

[James Clark]

I think this maker is already highlighted as a known maker in the thread pinned to the top of this forum, except that it has been mis-spelled as Walter & Hentein.

[Sonderkommando]

Hi hagwalther,
Here is a cross that I think is a match for the one you posted, noticable by the very thick beading. No maker mark though.
Can you confirm that the beading has the same details, or can you post bigger, clearer pics of yours......

Cheers,
Brett

[Sonderkommando]

back..

.

[DavidM]

Hello

Nice original cross and packet.

Detlev Niemann currently has some of these for sale on his website. His description is, "Magnetic core, with ribbon in packet by maker "Walter Henlein........."

So it would appear that Walter & Henlein is known - the question is, did this company make the cross and the packet or just the packet ?

Regards
David

[hagwalther]

Thanks for all the replies Guys,



Photos are the best I can get at the moment so we will have to try and get along with those.

With regards to the packet name: as I know things with all packets, the name relates to the manufacturer of the item inside the packet. It would have been nice if the cross had a maker mark on it so that the packet and cross could reconcile but there you go.

However, looks like Gordon will have to update his book to include this maker !!!

Regards ...

[FW 200]

My unmarked Walter&Henlein

I recently got one of these sets, and I think we may be on to something here.

[FW 200]

the back

Mine has a very low date on the reverse

[FW 200]

obverse date

date