KC war merit cross

[biohazard69]

Hi
opinion please
Thanks

[biohazard69]

1

[Alex W.]

Postwar made by Souval

[cobra-2001]

Postwar made by Souval

I agree post war

[Dennis J]

L/58 post war Souval from the early 60's.

]Dennis J

[Ludwig]

Not a wartime original cross.

[pattex]

... and the ribbon loop is a replacement ...

best regards
Pattex

[Ian Hulley]

It mystifies me that an L/58 mark on an Iron Cross is acceptable but is certainly not on any other award ?

Ian

[Tom B]

Yes, post war

[Dietrich Maerz]

It mystifies me that an L/58 mark on an Iron Cross is acceptable but is certainly not on any other award ?
Ian

It is very easy just to say "post-war" but there is also a reason for this. Contrary to the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross, there were no pre October 1941 manufacturer of an LDO product for the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross. To know why one has to dive a little deeper into the history and then one will learn that the very first award of the WMC w/o Swords was awarded in early 1942. Since the RK to the WMC was a very high order, it was only handled by the PKZ. Therefore any LDO marked examples are bogus.
The situation with the EK1 is very much different, there was never any sales prohibition.

[Peter J.]

Dietrich, as always you present a perfectly plausible scenario, but you know how obstinate I am and I'm sure you don't mind a few questions

Both KC's of the WMC were instituted in August 1940 (if I'm to believe Angolia). How do we know there weren't any examples actually produced before 1942? The OL/S was awarded the same day as the day of institution and the Diamonds the day after the institution. Do you see where my thoughts are going?

cheers
Peter

[Leroy]

The OL/S was awarded the same day as the day of institution and the Diamonds the day after the institution. Do you see where my thoughts are going?

Actually, the Diamonds were awarded to Werner Moelders in July, 1941, but were not "officially" instituted until September, 1941.

[Peter J.]

Thanks Gentry, that reference to the Diamonds was also from Angolia. That leaves us with a decoration being produced and awarded 2 months prior to the actual "official" institution, which I believe further validate my initial inquiry.

cheers
Peter

[Tony T-S]

Nice silver postwar example, sadly with replaced loop. I'd certainly have it in my Souval collection. It really needs a new loop, however, and these are impossible to get hold of.

[Leroy]

You are welcome, Peter.

The interesting question for me is: When were the first RK's of the Iron Cross made..............?

Decent Souval, made in real silver.