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IRON CROSS 2nd CLASS

Created in 1813, as written in the obverse of the cross, it was restored by Adolf Hitler in 1939 as a German decoration (rather than Prussian as in earlier versions), continuing the tradition of issuing it in various grades. Legally it is based on the enactment (Reichsgesetzblatt I S. 1573^[5]) of 1 September 1939 Verordnung über die Erneuerung des Eisernen Kreuzes (Regulation for the Re-introduction of the Iron Cross). The Iron Cross of the Second World War was divided into three main series of decorations with an intermediate category, the Knight's Cross, instituted between the lowest, the Iron Cross, and the highest, the Grand Cross. The Knight's Cross replaced the Prussian Pour le Mérite or "Blue Max". Hitler did not care for the Pour le Mérite, as it was a Prussian order that could be awarded only to officers. The ribbon of the medal (2nd class and Knight's Cross) was different from the earlier Iron Crosses in that the color red was used in addition to the traditional black and white (black and white were the colours of Prussia, while black, white, and red were the colors of Germany).

The standard 1939 Iron Cross was issued in the following two grades:^[6]

• Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse)
• Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse) (abbreviated as EK I or E.K.I.)

The Iron Cross was awarded for bravery in battle as well as other military contributions in a battlefield environment.
The Iron Cross 2nd Class came with a ribbon and was worn in one of two different methods:

• When in formal dress, the entire cross was worn mounted alone or as part of a medal bar.
• For everyday wear, only the ribbon was worn from the second button hole in the tunic.

The Iron Cross First Class was a pin-on medal with no ribbon and was worn centered on a uniform breast pocket, either on dress uniforms or everyday outfit. It was a progressive award, with the second class having to be earned before the first class and so on for the higher degrees.
It is estimated that some four and a half million Second Class Iron Crosses were awarded in the Second World War, and 300,000 of the First Class. 

DRIVERS BADGE

AEROPLANE MAGAZINE - 9/7/1943

WAR RATION BOOK Nº 3

FIRST AID PACKET - CARLISLE BANDAGE & SULFA POWDER

MERIT CROSS IIK

The War Merit Cross (German: Kriegsverdienstkreuz) was a decoration of Nazi Germany during the Second World War, which could be awarded to civilians as well as military personnel. It was reissued in 1957 by the Bundeswehr in a De-Nazified version for veterans.
This award was created by Adolf Hitler in 1939 as a successor to the non-combatant Iron Cross which was used in earlier wars (same medal but with a different ribbon). The award was graded the same as the Iron Cross: War Merit Cross Second Class, War Merit Cross First Class, and Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross. The award had two variants: with swords given to soldiers for exceptional service in battle above and beyond the call of duty (but not worthy of an Iron Cross which was more a bravery award), and without swords for meritorious service behind the lines which could also be awarded to civilians. Recipients had to have the lower grade of the award before getting the next level. There was also another version below the 2nd class simply called the War Merit Medal (German: Kriegsverdienstmedaille), set up in 1940 for civilians in order to offset the large number of 2nd class without swords being awarded. It was usually given to those workers in factories who significantly exceeded work quotas.

A Cruz de Mérito foi uma condecoração da Alemanha nazi durante a Segunda Guerra Mundial, que podia ser concedida a civis, assim como militares. Foi reeditado em 1957 pela Bundeswehr em uma versão de-nazificada para os veteranos.

Este prêmio foi criado por Adolf Hitler em 1939 como um sucessor para o Cruz de Ferro não-combatente que foi usada em guerras anteriores (mesma medalha, mas com uma fita diferente). A condecoração tem os mesmos graus que a Cruz de Ferro: Cruz de mérito 2ª classe,Cruz de mérito 1ª classe , e a cruz de mérito de cavaleiro. O prémio teve duas variantes: com espadas dadas aos soldados para o serviço excepcional na batalha acima e além da chamada do dever (e não digno de uma Cruz de Ferro), e sem espadas para serviços meritórios para trás as linhas que poderiam então, ser concedido aos civis. Os beneficiários tinham possuir o grau anterior para poder receber o próximo. Houve também uma outra versão abaixo da 2 ª classe simplesmente chamado a Medalha de Mérito de Guerra (Deutsch: War Medalha de Mérito), criado em 1940 para os civis, a fim de compensar o grande número de 2 ª classe sem espadas. Era geralmente dada aos trabalhadores das fábricas que excediam significativamente as quotas de trabalho.