Iron Cross 2nd Class

Date of Establishment

September 1, 1939

Criteria for Award

• Acts of bravery against the enemy
• Actions above and beyond the call of duty

Conclusion of production and number of awarded medals

Production of the decoration continued until the end of the war, with over 3 million medals awarded.

Method and Material of Production

The decoration consisted of three parts. The first and last parts formed the frame, while the third part was the core. The frame was mostly made from an alloy of copper, zinc, and nickel – commonly known as “German silver.” The medal’s core was iron – magnetic, and there are also rarer examples where the core is copper – non-magnetic.

Wearing

• The decoration was worn in three different ways:
• Hung from the second buttonhole – especially during award ceremonies
• As part of or the entirety of an alternate ceremonial clasp – during formal occasions
• Worn as just the ribbon through the second buttonhole – everyday or combat attire

The decoration ribbon was (from left to right) black – white – red – white – black, representing the colors of the new Third Reich.

Award Presentation

The Iron Cross Second Class was most commonly presented in a small bag – a package of blue or orange-red color. On the front side, the inscription “Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1939” is printed in black. On the back side, at the bottom in black, the manufacturer’s name or logo is impressed. Less frequently seen is a leather, black presentation box. The interior of the box is ochre-yellow with an impression where the medal itself lies. The lid of the box bears the silver LDO insignia. The recipient of the decoration also received an additional presentation document and an entry in the military booklet – “soldbuch.”

General Description of the Medal

The Iron Cross Second Class is structurally similar to the so-called Maltese cross. On the front side of the decoration, in the center of the cross, there is a left-facing hooked cross. On the lower “arm/branch” of the cross, the year 1939 is inscribed, representing the year of the medal’s establishment. There are no specific details on the back side of the medal, except for the year 1813 on the lower “arm/branch” of the cross, which signifies the year of establishment of the Maltese cross as a decoration.
The edge of the cross is polished and highly glossy, while the ribbed raised part of the cross’s frame appears whitish, giving the cross a brilliant look.
At the upper edge of the upper “arm/branch” of the cross, there is a small ring holding a larger ring through which the decoration ribbon is threaded. The dimensions of the decoration are 44 by 44 mm.

In addition to the “standard” version of the cross, there are also a few rarer variations. One known as the “round three” version has the number 3 at the top rounded instead of flat, as in the “ordinary” version. Another distinctive form is the “Schinckel shape.” The Schinckel EK2 is narrower than the “regular” one. The reason for this is the use of molds from the First World War. This fact supports the thesis that Schinckel crosses are from the early period of the Second World War. The third rarer variation is the “Übergrösse” Iron Cross. These crosses differ from others in terms of their size, which is larger than the standard. The dimensions of the Übergrösse version of the cross are 47.5 by 47.5 mm. The reason for this size is unknown, but the cross was awarded like a regular Iron Cross Second Class and its size did not imply greater significance.

Übergrösse EK2

Schinckel EK2

Round 3 EK2 – refers to the font/typeface style used for the year inscription.

So far known manufacturers of the EK2 are:

1 Deschler &Sohn Munchen
2 C.E. Junker Berlin
3 Wilheim Deumer Ludenscheld
4 Steinhauer & Luck Ludenscheld
5 Hermann Wernstein Jena-Lobstedt
6 Fritz Zimmermann Stuttgart
7 Paul Meyhauer Berlin
8 Ferdinand Hoffstadter Bonn a. Rhein
9 Liefergsmeinschaft Scmuckhandwerker Pforzheim
10 Foerster & Barth Pforzheim
11 Grossmann & Co. Wien
12 Frank & Reif Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen
13 Gustav Brehmer Markneukirchen/Sa
14 L. Chr. Lauer Nurnberg-W
15 Friedrich Orth Wien
16 Alols Rettenmaler Scwablsch-Gmund
19 E. Ferd Weidmann Frankfurt/Main
20 C.F. Zimmermann Pforzheim
21 Gebr. Godet & Co. Berlin
22 Boerger & Co. Berlin
23 Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Heereshedarf darf In der Graveur-u. Ziseleurinnung
24 Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Hanauer Plaket-ten-hersteller
25 Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Graveur-Gold-und Silberschemiede-Innungen
26 B. H. Mayer’s Kunst-prageanstalt Pforzheim
27 Anton Schenkl’s Nachf. Wien
33 Friedrich Linden Ludenscheld
39 Rudolf Berge Gablonz a.d.N.
40 Berg & Nolte Ludenscheld
44 Jakob Bengel Idar/Oberdonau
49 Josef Feix Sohne Gablonz a.d.N.
50 Karl Gschiermeister Wien
52 Gottlieb & Wagner Ldar/Oberstein
55 J.E. Hammer & Sohne Geringswalde
56 Robert Hauschild Pforzheim
57 Karl Hensler Pforzheim
60 Katz & Deyhle Pforzheim
65 Klein & Quenzer A.G. Idar/Oberstein
66 Freidrich Keller Oberstein
70 Lind & Meyrer Oberstein a.d.N.
75 Franke & Co. Lüdenscheid
76 Ernst L. Muller Pforzheim
77 Bayer. Hauptmunzamt Munchen
85 Julius Pletsch Gablonz/N.
86 Paulmann & Crone Ludenscheid
92 Josef Rucker & Sohn Gablonz a.d.N.
93 Richard Simm & Sohne Gablonz a.d.N.
98 Rudolf Souval Wien
100 Rudolf Wachtler & Lange Mittweida
106 Bruder Schneider A.G. Wien
107 Carl Wild Hamburg
109 Walter & Hentein Gablonz a.d.N.
113 Hermann Aurich Dresden
114 Ludwig Bertsch Karlsruhe
117 Hugo Lang Wiesenthal a.N.
120 Franz Petzl Wien
122 JJ. Stahl Strassburg
123 Beck, Hassinger & Co. Strassburg
125 Eugen Gauss Pforzheim
126 Eduard Hahn Oberstein/Nahe
127 Moritz Hausch A.G. Pforzheim
128 S. Jablonski G.m.b.H. Posen
131 Heinrich Wander Gablonz
132 Franz Reischauer Oberstein
133 Otto Schickle Pforzheim
137 J.H. Werner Berlin
138 Julius Maurer Oberstein
140 Schauerte & Hohfeld Ludenscheid
142 A.D. Schwerdt Stuttgart

Timeless-History