Germany, Wehrmacht. A War Merit Cross, I Class with Swords and Case, by Julius Bauer & Söhne Archive with a medal extension consisting

with a medal extension consisting of two Royal crowns

Footnote: Pte George Holmes

This extremely rare pair of insignia was obtained directly from the descendant of the wearer (from Osijek

with “JE LES UNIS” (translation: united) underneath the eagle on the obverse

with a leather tab attached

Germany, Wehrmacht. A War Merit Cross, I Class with Swords and Case, by Julius Bauer & Söhne Archive with a medal extension consisting(Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse mit Schwertern und Etui). Constructed of silvered tombak, consisting of a Maltese Cross with crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse with pebbled arms, bearing a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse with a barrel hinge and flattened vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch, the pinback maker marked with Prsidialkanzlei code 43 for Julius Bauer & Shne, Zella Mehlis, measuring 47. 98 mm (w) x 47.