Iron Cross II Class, by Frank & Reif, #12

SKU: 01.GTR.0101.111.19

Estimated market value:

$ Click to See Price/Value

  • Iron Cross II Class, by Frank & Reif, #12 ("Übergröße" oversized version) Obverse
  • Iron Cross II Class, by Frank & Reif, #12 ("Übergröße" oversized version) Obverse
  • Iron Cross II Class, by Frank & Reif, #12 ("Übergröße" oversized version) Reverse
  • Iron Cross II Class, by Frank & Reif, #12 ("Übergröße" oversized version) Obverse

Attributes

  • country
    Germany
  • date of institution
    September 1, 1939
  • remarks
    PKZ: 12

Physical Description


All crosses by Frank & Reif are unmarked. The fact that the company had a PKZ number assigned, but no crosses marked “12” are known indicates that production of II Class Iron Crosses was most likely stopped in 1942. Since no marked crosses are known, the unmarked pieces and their signature flaws have been tied to the company by crosses found in paper award packets that carry the company’s name.

There are two different versions of crosses by Frank & Reif, an oversized one called “Übergröße” and a regular sized one nicknamed “little brother”.
The “Übergröße” cross approaches 47 x 47 mm, close to the size of a Knight’s Cross. Apart from the size, this cross is very easy to recognize due to three of the four inner corners of the frame being cut to make room for the swastika. Its frame is made from “900” silver, but not marked as such.
The “little brother” cross uses the same frame design, however the edges are cut off to make it smaller. It still has the inner corners cut to make room for the swastika, but to a much lesser degree.
Both versions use the same core. The 3 in “1813” is tilted slightly to the left and dips a little bit lower than the other digits.

History


The Iron Cross was originally founded in 1813 and was considered Germany’s highest military decoration. On September 1st, 1939, Adolf Hitler renewed the Order of the Iron Cross and instituted the decoration in four grades, II Class Iron Cross, I Class Iron Cross, Knight’s Cross and Grand Cross.

The II Class Iron Cross was conferred upon military personnel who performed a single act of bravery in the face of the enemy or acted in a way that went above and beyond the call of duty. The II Class was the most commonly awarded Iron Cross during the Second World War, and today, it is the most commonly found and the least expensive of the Iron Cross grades.

This grade was suspended from a ribbon and it could be worn in three different ways: attached to the second button of the tunic; mounted alone or as part of a ribbon bar when worn with formal attire; or the ribbon could be worn by itself for everyday wear.

Award numbers are unknown and will likely remain so. Estimates place the numbers at 2.5 million at the lower end and 5.5 million at the higher end, with approximately 3.5 million being the most likely number. Crosses produced are estimated at around 5 to 6 million.

Women, mostly nurses, are known to have been awarded the II Class Iron Cross. However, the numbers are extremely low, and only a few dozen female recipients are known today.

The II Class Iron Cross is generally made of a silvered frame and an iron core painted black. Different materials have been used on occasion and will be covered where applicable.
Individual makers or their cross versions and variants are often distinguished by flaws and irregularities of the frame. Usually, the frame is oriented in a certain way. However, if it is misaligned, flaws can be situated on the “wrong” cross arm. Obverse and reverse of the frame can also be used interchangeably. The reader should keep this in mind when a particular flaw in a particular spot is mentioned.

Frames and cores of several makers share a similar design. This is due to the fact that the company of Steinhauer & Lück (S&L) is known to have manufactured frame and core dies for several smaller companies.

Not every II Class Cross features a maker’s mark, although, if there is one present it will generally be stamped on the ribbon ring. Each firm was allocated a manufacturing number to indicate which decorations they had produced. Firms that were licensed to produce official state awards were issued Lieferant Numbers by the Präsidialkanzlei des Führers, referred to as PKZ numbers. Some firms were licensed to produce private-purchase replacement awards and were issued LDO (Leistungsgemeinschaft Deutscher Ordenshersteller) numbers. LDO pieces were stamped with a maker’s code that had an “L/” prefix, while Präsidialkanzlei items were stamped with numbers without a prefix.
Unmarked crosses were manufactured between the beginning of the war and late 1942 or early 1943. At that time the PKZ requested all crosses to be numbered. LDO marked crosses were first produced in early 1941. However, II Class Iron Crosses with LDO numbers are actually relatively rare.
More than 60 companies are known to have produced the II Class Iron Cross, in varying quantities.

The standard size of the II Class Iron Cross is approximately 44.5 x 44.5mm, although there are versions that are larger and smaller. Along with numerous stickpin miniatures, there is a rare Prinzen sized cross that is around 30.5x33mm. In addition, a larger “Übergröße” (oversize) cross was produced by maker Frank & Reif and is around 47 to 48mm, closer in size to the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. The Übergröße cross has a frame produced out of “900” silver. The original reason for these crosses being produced larger than standard ones is unknown.

There is a slimline variation of the II Class Iron Cross that is known as the “Schinkel-form” or “Schinkel” cross. All Imperial Iron Cross awards were modelled after the 1813 Iron Cross, which was designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel. When the Iron Cross was reinstated in 1939, some manufacturers used existing dies of 1914-style silver frames leftover from the First World War, resulting in crosses with a smaller center and narrower arms, and smaller, more delicate features. This practice was quickly stopped, as Hitler wanted the new Iron Cross to be larger in size. Examples of the 1939 Schinkel cross produced by various companies have been awarded until early 1940.

Due to the sheer number of different variants, the versions shown for each maker are just an approximation and not a definitive or conclusive list.

FOR SALE / WANTED

Item For Sale By

Be the first to sell this item

Wanted By

Be the first to request this item

Versions

  • Price

    $580 USD

  • Composition

    Iron/Silver

  • Inscription

    Obv: 1939 Rev: 1813

  • Size

    47x47mm

  • Maker

  • Version Remarks

    This version is oversized and the frame is made from "900" silver, yet not marked as such.

  • View Item
  • Price

    $100 USD

  • Composition

    Iron/Neusilber

  • Inscription

    Obv: 1939 Rev: 1813

  • Size

    45x45mm

  • Maker

  • Version Remarks

    This version is of the regular sized. Since it is smaller than the oversized version, it has been nicknamed "little brother".

  • View Item

Comments

Sign in to comment and reply.

Scroll Top