Germany, Wehrmacht. A War Merit Cross I Class With Swords Hold An extremely fine quality manufacture

An extremely fine quality manufacture “Verdienstorden vom Deutschen Adler mit Schwerter”

and is wrapped with twisted aluminum wire

The award was patterned after Napoleon's Legion of Honour of 1812 and the French Colonial Order of the dragon of Annam

It is accompanied by a matching buckle

with Sherman tanks

Germany, Wehrmacht. A War Merit Cross I Class With Swords Hold An extremely fine quality manufacture(Kriegsverdienstkreuze I. Klasse mit Schwertern). Constructed of silvered zink, consisting of a Maltese Cross with crossed swords through the centre, the obverse with pebbled arms and a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse with an integral barrel hinge and banjo style pinback meeting a rounded integral catch, unmarked, measuring 49. 13 mm (w) x 48. 63 mm (h), weighing 16. 7 grams, with loss of finish throughout, in overall very fine condition.