German WWII Iron Cross 2nd Class-This is a salty example of an EKII. There is rusting to the black finish of the iron core. The black finish is mostly intact, but there are moderate spots of rust which is mostly isolated to the obverse of the cross. The reverse seems to be in better condition overall. The ring is marked “25” for the unusual maker of Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Graveur, Gold und Silberschmeide-Innungen, Hanau. This has an original portion of ribbon attached, the ribbon is very clean and has vibrant colors. A salty example with a lot of character.
History: The German Iron Cross of 1939, awarded during World War II, was a reintroduction of the historic Prussian Iron Cross by Adolf Hitler at the start of the conflict, featuring a swastika in the center and a ribbon incorporating the colors of the TR regime (black, white, and red) instead of the traditional Prussian black and white stripes. This medal was essentially a way to continue the tradition of military valor recognition while aligning it with the new ideology.