WW2 German Iron Cross 2nd Class Maker Marked 44

The WW2 German Iron Cross 2nd Class Maker Marked 44 is a military decoration awarded by Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Instituted in 1939, the Iron Cross 2nd Class recognized acts of bravery or leadership on the battlefield. This example features a blackened iron core with a silvered frame, characteristic of the period’s construction. The obverse displays a swastika in the center, the year “1939” below, and the reverse bears the date “1813,” referencing the award’s original institution. The suspension ring is stamped with the maker’s code “44,” identifying the specific wartime manufacturer. The medal measures approximately 42 mm in width and is typically accompanied by a black and white striped ribbon. The Iron Cross 2nd Class was among the most widely bestowed awards of the German military and remains a notable artifact for collectors of military history.