Description
Product Description: This Juncker Knights Cross with Oak Leaves is a gorgeous set that could be a centerpiece of an advanced collection. The cross is very nice, with outstanding character and eye appeal. The cross was missing the suspension loop when purchased, and currently has a lovely original set of oak leaves attached to it, complementing it and completing it nicely. This fantastic and extremely desirable cross was made by the prestigious firm of C. E. Juncker in Berlin, and is a type known to collectors as an early “800” piece. These are among the earliest of the iron-cored Knights Crosses produced by Juncker, sometime in 1940. This cross appears to be one that was issued and worn. The core shows pleasant, even wear. Virtually all of the correct, original, smooth early-war black painted finish is intact, with the gleam of the base metal barely visible at the edges of the raised swastika emblem. There is an uncleaned old patina, with some build up in the protected lower areas around the emblems and at the edges. The details of the numerals in the dates on both sides conform perfectly to other known original Knights Crosses by this manufacturer. The silver frame has an appealing light patina, with some eye-catching pastel shades as well as darker toning to the outer flanges. The beading is bright, with very light wear to the high points, indicative of daily wear. The frame is correct in every detail, with the typical cross-hatched inner corners that have been lightly filed to fit the swastika, as is characteristic of Juncker made crosses. The frame is stamped only with “800” for silver content (80 percent silver) below the suspension loop eyelet on the reverse. The correct original red, white, and black ribbon came with this cross, and has been set up for wear. The ends of the ribbon are finished with neat hand stitching and a hook and loop to secure the award around the wearer’s neck. The ribbon shows wear that matches the cross, with slight soiling evident where it was handled many times, and moderate toning. This exquisite set has been completed with a very nice second pattern Oak Leaves to the Knights Cross. These Oak Leaves are made of “900” silver, with an even dark patina throughout. Lighter tones at the high points create great contrast. The reverse of the top quality Oak Leaves is maker marked with the PKZ number “21” for Godet, as well as “900” for the silver content. Like the cross, the Oak Leaves are correct and textbook down to the tiniest details, with the expected die flaw present on the side of the leaf. This Juncker Knights Cross with Oak Leaves is, without question, a high-end collectible. It is also an evocative object, with a charming historic impression. The condition rates as excellent throughout.
Historical Description: The German Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. Instituted on September 1st, 1939, the Knights Cross has come to be known as one of the most recognized awards of World War Two and Germany. Awarded for extreme individual acts of bravery during combat, or successful battlefield leadership resulting in extraordinary success, the Knights Cross and its subsequent grades were among the German Military’s most prestigious decorations. The Knights Cross, suspended by a black, red, and white ribbon, was worn around the neck. Prior to the Knights Cross, Germany’s highest military, the Pour Le Merit, was reserved for Officers. The highest bravery awards an enlisted man could obtain was the Iron Cross 1stClass. Keeping with the National Socialist idea, and the breaking of the old Prussian aristocratic ways, Adolf Hitler created an award which, for the first time in the history of the Iron Cross, every member of Germany’s armed forces was eligible to be awarded, provided the requirements of awarding had been met. The awarding process determining whether a soldier was worthy of the award, began as a recommendation at the company level. This recommendation was then reviewed and either approved or denied. Upon approval, it would continue through the appropriate chain of command. If approval continued through unopposed, the recommendation ultimately ended in the hands Adolf Hitler, with himself making the final judgment. Most recommendations did not reach Adolf Hitler, or were lost in the chaos of war. The Knights Cross was awarded 7,364 times during the war. It is estimated that approximately 20,000 Knights Crosses were produced between September 1939 to May 1945.
Keeping with the rich heroic history of the Iron Cross, the Knights Cross was also constructed of three separate pieces, a core and two outer frames. The obverse displaying a rotating swastika in the center with the date “1939” for the year of introduction during the present conflict, and the reverse featuring only the date “1813” for the first year of the institution of the Iron Cross. The core, made of iron, zinc, or brass, was placed between the two outer silver frames and delicately hand soldered together. The cross was then suspended by a large loop through the frames top eyelet. A ribbon of black, white, and red was then threaded through the suspension loop. The production of the Knights Cross was strictly regulated, and only after the company’s granted approval by the government, were they legally allowed to produce the Knights Cross. In 1941, the German Government restricted the sale of the Knights Cross only to those with proper documentation proving their eligibility.
Wartime manufacturers of Knights Crosses are Juncker, Steinhauer & Luck, Klein & Quenzer, Otto Schickle, C.F. Zimmermann, Gebruder Godet, Unknown “3/4 Ring”.
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