WW2 German Iron Cross 1st Class

The Iron Cross 1st Class was a military decoration awarded by Germany during World War II. Instituted on September 1, 1939, it recognized acts of exceptional bravery or leadership in combat. The decoration consists of a single-piece metal cross with a blackened iron core and a silvered frame. The front features a raised swastika in the center above the year “1939,” referencing its reintroduction at the start of World War II. The reverse is typically flat and unadorned, except for the presence of a pin and clasp system for attachment to the uniform. The Iron Cross 1st Class was worn above the left breast pocket, distinguishing it from the 2nd Class which hung from a ribbon. This award remains one of the most recognized German military decorations of the era and serves as a significant collectible for those interested in World War II military history.