Frontkreuz

[ben bijker]

this came today.
It was part of an estate that was split.
In this estate was a card with a sheat metal medal-design for the so-called " Frontkreuz"

According to Klietmann's book (Auszeichnungen des deutschen Reiches) in juli 1943 every soldier was invited to make a design for the Frontkreuz.
This was to be awarded to those who had proven themselves, but hadn't been awarded a KVK or ek.

No proof that this is original, but I like it.
I got it together with K. Th. Fliedner's " Bierzipfel"

[ben bijker]

The design...

[StefanK.]

Wow Ben, nice! The writing on the back looks very promising that the "Frontkreuz" is original.

[ben bijker]

Thanks Stefan.

The group passed through some collector's hands, but the pics are from the collector that got it from the family.

The " card" is thick cardboard with felt (I think..) and has the same "old book" smell as most ek cases have.
Reverse has some aging to it, and the writing makes it very convincing indeed.

Since the price was more then ok, I decided to go for it, although it hasn't got much to do with ek's....

Ben

[Douglas 5]

Nice group Ben , with that design scetch amazing !

Douglas

[adlerfan53]

Love that medal bar. Good score.

[streptile]

Really interesting set Ben.

So this "Frontkreuz" design was presumably done by this soldier himself, in response to a competition of sorts to design a new award?

Was a "Frontkreuz" eventually made?
Are any other designs known?

[evilmike]

i wonder where the idea for those swords came from....

looks like a great haul!

[ben bijker]

Really interesting set Ben.

So this "Frontkreuz" design was presumably done by this soldier himself, in response to a competition of sorts to design a new award?

Was a "Frontkreuz" eventually made?
Are any other designs known?

I think I wasn't clear enough here, sorry...

I didn't obtain the group, but just the design for the Frontkreuz and the "Bierzipfel"
The group was sold, and then split up.

@ Trevor : yes.
There was a "competition" to design a new award.
The only design I knew so far was in Klietmann's book.
I will post a pic of that page(s) later) .
The award was never made.


ben

[reichenberg]

I think there is also a design for a Frontzreuz in one of Robin Lumsdens books. I think it's Orders and Decorations of the Third Reich, or something like that.

[ben bijker]

@reichenberg : that is very well possible, I don't have that book though...


Here's the part from Klietmann's book:

[ben bijker]

text

[reichenberg]

Yep, that's the same illustration.

[ben bijker]

I already assumed that, after re-reading the text.
This appears to be the only known design so far.

ben