WW2 German War Merit Cross With Swords 1st Class Maker 3 Wilhelm Deumer

The WW2 German War Merit Cross with Swords 1st Class, Maker Mark “3” Wilhelm Deumer, is a military decoration awarded during the Second World War by Nazi Germany. Instituted on October 18, 1939, the War Merit Cross recognized both military and civilian contributions to the war effort. The 1st Class cross with swords specifically acknowledged acts of merit performed under combat conditions by members of the armed forces or associated personnel who did not meet the criteria for the Iron Cross. This example features a Maltese cross constructed of tombac or zinc, with swords crossed between the arms to signify military merit. The reverse bears a solid pin and is stamped with the maker’s code “3” for Wilhelm Deumer, a notable medal manufacturer based in Lüdenscheid. The badge exhibits typical wartime production characteristics and measures approximately 46mm in diameter. The War Merit Cross with Swords remains an important artifact for collectors of German military history.