{"product_id":"german-wwi-1914-2nd-class-iron-cross-1","title":"German WWI 1914 2nd Class Iron Cross","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eGerman WWI 1914 2\u003csup\u003end\u003c\/sup\u003e Class Iron Cross-This early iron cross is excellent. It retains nearly all of its original black finish on its iron core. The silver frame is very nicely toned. The original piece of black and white ribbon is clean, though the white does show toning from age and storage. There is a very cool original safety pin still attached to the ribbon! This is a very good example overall! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;\"\u003eHistory: On March 10th, 1813, Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III established the Iron Cross as a temporary award for bestowal during times of war. Originally the Iron Cross was introduced in three grades with a Grand Cross intended for award to Senior Commanders for successfully leading troops in combat and the First and Second classes for award to all ranks for bravery or merit in action. The Iron Crosses were reinstituted by King Wilhelm I on July 19th, 1870, for award during the Franco-Prussian War and again on August 5th, 1914, by King Wilhelm II for award during WWI. On September 1st, 1939, Hitler once more reinstituted the Iron Cross series of awards in the First and Second Classes and established the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. The first-class medal was for award to personnel who performed three to five acts of bravery in combat and had already been awarded the Iron Cross second class.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Ruptured Duck, LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":68008804778290,"sku":"M-202b","price":95.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1141\/9332\/files\/WW1_German_Iron_Cross_3323.jpg?v=1792588155","url":"https:\/\/www.therupturedduck.com\/products\/german-wwi-1914-2nd-class-iron-cross-1","provider":"The Ruptured Duck, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}