Physical Description

B-type prototype
The B-type prototype version was one of the original candidates for the II Class Iron Cross blueprint, but rejected by the officials. Nevertheless, a number of crosses were produced and even awarded. Both “1939” and “1813” feature round 3s. “1939” is slightly tilted to the left, while the first 1 in “1813” has a rather “long nose”. The ribbon suspension ring is unusually thick, while the ring loop is smaller compared to later versions. It is attached to the frame by a projecting lug. Unmarked.

Thick frame with round 3
The so-called thick frame version presents a thicker than usual frame at around 5 mm. It has a distinguishable mark in the lower corner of the 3 o’clock arm in the form of a “valley” between the two beading strands.

There are four variants for this version:
The “slanted date” variant has the “1813” slightly slanted to the right, by c. 1°. Deschler cores with this feature are known as A cores.
The “plateaued swastika” variant has the swastika sitting on a small plateau instead of sticking directly to the core.
The “dipping 8” variant has the numbers 8 and 3 in “1813” dip visibly lower than the two 1s. The number 1 in “1939” is taller than the other numbers. Deschler cores with these features are known as B cores.
The “bevelled corners” variant is named after the bevelled outer tips of the frame. A and B cores have been found so far with this variant.
There is a C core used with some variants, and technically could have been used with all of them. The Deschler thick frame version is a complicated one due to the combining and interchanging of different obverse and reverse core die tools instead of one consistent die. Because of this, lots of combinations are possible. The Deschler C core reverse has both 1s in “1813” dipping below the other numbers.

Regular frame
The so-called regular frame is also known as the Deschler frame. It was introduced fairly early on in the war to replace the thick frame version. It can be identified by its round inner corners and the angled, asymmetrical beading of the 6 o’clock arm, where the left side is tilting downward more strongly than the right side. I Class Iron Crosses by Deschler can be found with the very same frame.

There are three variants for this version:
The “round 3” variant presents one of the aforementioned cores used with the thick frame, identifiable by the characteristic 3 with the rounded top in “1939”, only now held in the new regular frame.
The “unmarked” variant is the first one with a 3 that has the regular flat top in “1939”. In “1813”, the 3 is angled, leaning to the left, and both 8 and 3 dip lower than the 1s.
There is an unexplained unmarked subvariant with a non-iron core, very thin 1s in “1813”, and a smaller than usual swastika. It is possible this core was manufactured by a different company, even though the frame was clearly made by Deschler.
The “1” variant is identical to the regular “unmarked” variant, except that Deschler’s PKZ number is stamped on the ribbon ring.

History

The Iron Cross was originally founded in 1813 and was considered Germany’s highest military decoration. On September 1st, 1939, Adolf Hitler renewed the Order of the Iron Cross and instituted the decoration in four grades, II Class Iron Cross, I Class Iron Cross, Knight’s Cross and Grand Cross.

The II Class Iron Cross was conferred upon military personnel who performed a single act of bravery in the face of the enemy or acted in a way that went above and beyond the call of duty. The II Class was the most commonly awarded Iron Cross during the Second World War, and today, it is the most commonly found and the least expensive of the Iron Cross grades.

This grade was suspended from a ribbon and it could be worn in three different ways: attached to the second button of the tunic; mounted alone or as part of a ribbon bar when worn with formal attire; or the ribbon could be worn by itself for everyday wear.

Award numbers are unknown and will likely remain so. Estimates place the numbers at 2.5 million at the lower end and 5.5 million at the higher end, with approximately 3.5 million being the most likely number. Crosses produced are estimated at around 5 to 6 million.

Women, mostly nurses, are known to have been awarded the II Class Iron Cross. However, the numbers are extremely low, and only a few dozen female recipients are known today.

The II Class Iron Cross is generally made of a silvered frame and an iron core painted black. Different materials have been used on occasion and will be covered where applicable.
Individual makers or their cross versions and variants are often distinguished by flaws and irregularities of the frame. Usually, the frame is oriented in a certain way. However, if it is misaligned, flaws can be situated on the “wrong” cross arm. Obverse and reverse of the frame can also be used interchangeably. The reader should keep this in mind when a particular flaw in a particular spot is mentioned.

Frames and cores of several makers share a similar design. This is due to the fact that the company of Steinhauer & Lück (S&L) is known to have manufactured frame and core dies for several smaller companies.

Not every II Class Cross features a maker’s mark, although, if there is one present it will generally be stamped on the ribbon ring. Each firm was allocated a manufacturing number to indicate which decorations they had produced. Firms that were licensed to produce official state awards were issued Lieferant Numbers by the Präsidialkanzlei des Führers, referred to as PKZ numbers. Some firms were licensed to produce private-purchase replacement awards and were issued LDO (Leistungsgemeinschaft Deutscher Ordenshersteller) numbers. LDO pieces were stamped with a maker’s code that had an “L/” prefix, while Präsidialkanzlei items were stamped with numbers without a prefix.
Unmarked crosses were manufactured between the beginning of the war and late 1942 or early 1943. At that time the PKZ requested all crosses to be numbered. LDO marked crosses were first produced in early 1941. However, II Class Iron Crosses with LDO numbers are actually relatively rare.
More than 60 companies are known to have produced the II Class Iron Cross, in varying quantities.

The standard size of the II Class Iron Cross is approximately 44.5 x 44.5mm, although there are versions that are larger and smaller. Along with numerous stickpin miniatures, there is a rare Prinzen sized cross that is around 30.5x33mm. In addition, a larger “Übergröße” (oversize) cross was produced by maker Frank & Reif and is around 47 to 48mm, closer in size to the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. The Übergröße cross has a frame produced out of “900” silver. The original reason for these crosses being produced larger than standard ones is unknown.

There is a slimline variation of the II Class Iron Cross that is known as the “Schinkel-form” or “Schinkel” cross. All Imperial Iron Cross awards were modelled after the 1813 Iron Cross, which was designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel. When the Iron Cross was reinstated in 1939, some manufacturers used existing dies of 1914-style silver frames leftover from the First World War, resulting in crosses with a smaller center and narrower arms, and smaller, more delicate features. This practice was quickly stopped, as Hitler wanted the new Iron Cross to be larger in size. Examples of the 1939 Schinkel cross produced by various companies have been awarded until early 1940.

Due to the sheer number of different variants, the versions shown for each maker are just an approximation and not a definitive or conclusive list.