Bidspirit auction | German WWII War Merit Cross

German WWII War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords - A Kriegsverdienstkreuz mit Schwertern (War Merit Cross with Swords), 2nd Class, in the form of a faceted cross with crossed swords, the central roundel bearing a central emblem on one face and the date 1939 on the other, surrounded by a laurel wreath border. The medal is finished in a bronze-toned metal and is suspended from its original-pattern red, white, and black ribbon. This decoration was instituted in October 1939 to recognize both military and civilian contributions to the German war effort, with the addition of swords denoting an award for actions performed under combat conditions rather than for merit alone. The War Merit Cross was established by Adolf Hitler on 18 October 1939 as a means of rewarding wartime service that fell outside the criteria for combat gallantry decorations such as the Iron Cross. The version with swords was reserved for recipients whose contribution had been made under fire or in direct connection with combat operations, including military personnel in non-combatant roles, medical staff, and civilian officials, while the swordless version recognised meritorious service on the home front or in administration. The 2nd Class was the junior of the award's grades, typically presented before any higher classes could be conferred, and it was issued in very large numbers to both military and civilian recipients throughout the war.