Germany, Wehrmacht. A Cased 1939 Iron Cross I Class, By C.f. Zimmermann, From The Dietrich Maerz Collection Hold constructed of white embroidery BeVo

constructed of white embroidery BeVo style lettering on a black cotton/rayon blended backer

there is still dried soil or mud from its original use

the first photo of the lot is that of the initial field grave of Sergeant John William Peter Melvin - who was killed April 7th 1917

2nd pattern eagle

with bright red enamels exhibiting only minor wear

Germany, Wehrmacht. A Cased 1939 Iron Cross I Class, By C.f. Zimmermann, From The Dietrich Maerz Collection Hold constructed of white embroidery BeVo(Eisernes Kreuz 1939 I. Klasse mit Etui). Reinstituted 1 September 1939. (1939 1945 issue). Constructed of iron and silver, consisting of a Cross Patte with a blackened magnetic iron core within a ribbed silver frame, the obverse with a central mobile swastika, the six oclock arm with a reinstitution date of 1939, the reverse with a barrel hinge and vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch, the pinback marked on the reverse with code 20 for maker C.