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[–] Tyrone_Biggums [S] 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago 

See some things on eBay at times. Maybe an iron cross or something simple. Is eBay a good idea?

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[–] BumbleTummy 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago  (edited ago)

Preferably deal with a dealer who has long-established connections. Easier said than done, however.

I would send you to my dealer, but he's passed and I do not have anyone currently that I trust.

However, if you want to get a WWI / WWII Iron Cross 2nd Class, you'll likely end up with a real one, since they were produced in the hundreds of thousands, maybe into the millions.

They're also very affordable.

But, I would say to you, with any awards, you generally don't want one that looks new. You don't want pristine. I purposely purchased items that had wear to them. The reason? Providence.

Most people never seem to notice, but once you hear it, you realize this to be true - think of every movie you've seen. Every real WWII photo or film featuring German solders - Germans wore their combat valor awards IN COMBAT. They were to be worn to show what you have earned, to inspire other soldiers. But, as with many military awards, the lower (2nd class) awards were not worn, only their ribbon were.

The soldiers did need a 2nd set, for dress and for parades, so that they were like-new. Those renamed in their cases or in their envelopes until needed. Or they stayed attached to a clean dress uniform in a locker somewhere. Uniforms had a series of stitched slits and holes for the awards to be mounted to. The awards are not held on with regular old stickpins.

2nd Class Iron Crosses were not worn except on the day they were awarded. Their only damage is usually from handling and being thrown around. They were issued in a yellow envelope, so no cases. They took the ribbon and wore it thru a buttonhole on their jackets, usually along side their Russian front ribbon.

A 1st class, however, was worn daily, in all conditions and in all duties.

The Knights Cross, you can pretty much forget picking a legit award up for any affordable price. They're mostly all fakes. Too few were issued and only a limited number were produced for replacement / backups for those awarded. Their size was a little larger than an Iron Cross First or 2nd Class, but were sometimes worn on the Knights Cross ribbon by the Knights Cross recipient so as to keep their original safe. The loop on the Knights is different from the 2nd Class.

A German Cross can be difficult to get a legit piece, but they can be found. Still pretty pricey.

If you want a War Merit Cross of the 1st class, they're not too hard to find and purchase.

Anyway, there's lots to know or learn.

The progression of the valor EK awards were:

EK2 EK1 German Cross Knights Cross

But the German Cross was not required to go from EK1 to Knights Cross. It took a lot to earn the Knights Cross, but if you distinguished yourself after earning the Iron Cross 2 and 1, you could end up with the German Cross.

And if you earned the EK awards in WWI and then again in WWII, there's entirely special medals for you. You wore your WWI EK2 Ribbon with an attachment, called a Spange, or clasp, and the same for the WWI Iron Cross 1st Class. Spanges are difficult to find legit copies of.

Once you learn about the German ribbons and awards, you can just look at a German soldier or officer and tell all about their combat and service history. You can tell where they've been, on what fronts, if they've had front-line duty, gone hand-to-hand, served on the Russian Front, been in a tank battle, etc. It's all very interesting stuff.

It can be a very addictive and expensive hobby.

I have the WWI EK1 and EK2 The WWII EK1 and EK2 The WWII Spange to the WWI EK 1 and 2 The German Cross The War Merit 1st and 2nd class for military personnel The German Occupation Medals - Austria, Memel, Sudetenland Several various wound badges Assault Badges NSDAP Pins Tie Pins Various Civil Service long-time awards Mother Cross in Gold and frankly, I can't even remember what all else. They're all put away.

My most expensive and rarest piece: A "20 Juli 1944" Silver Wound Badge given to those wounded in the bomb assassination attempt on Hitler.

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[–] Tyrone_Biggums [S] 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Damn you know your stuff. I may message you with questions.