Description
Product Description: A beautiful set of postwar Oak Leaves Swords and Diamonds, produced by the same firm who produced the wartime pieces; Otto Klein, Hanau. This set of postwar produced Oak Leaves Swords and Diamonds is by far the closet one will get to owning a set, without paying the substantial sum required to own a wartime produced set. These were produced as replacements for wartime recipients after the war. Their initial cost, while not near that of the originals using real diamond and silver or platinum, was still quite substantial given the amount of skill and labor required to fashion one of these pieces. They really are a piece of jewelry. This set of postwar Otto Klein produced Oak Leaves Swords and Diamonds consists of a multiple piece construction in “935” silver, similar to that of the wartime B-Type originals. The oak leaves are fashioned with jeweler set cubic zirconia stones and large side lights for allowing ample light to the stones, to allow them to sparkle. The oak leaves, consisting of multiple pieces itself, are riveted together on the reverse with correct hollow threaded rivets. The swords are separately produced and very delicately soldered under the oak leaves on the enlarged ribbon loop. The reverse side of the swords are correctly maker marked with the “circle K” for the firm of Otto Klein, and the silver content of “935”. This postwar set of Oak Leaves Swords and Diamonds, produced by the same wartime firm as the originals, is the best thing one will get to an original wartime set.
Historical Description: The Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross was instituted on September 1, 1939, and was awarded for skilled leadership, distinguished conduct, or individual acts of bravery in combat. At the time, it remained the highest award for bravery that the German soldier could earn. With the continuation of the war, on June 3, 1940, the Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross were introduced as a way to further recognize extremely distinguished achievements by soldiers who had already been awarded the Knight’s Cross. The Oak Leaves to the Knight’s Cross were finely struck in silver, and affixed to a suspension loop from which the Knight’s Cross would be suspended when worn. On September 28, 1941, two additional grades of the Knight’s Cross were introduced. The Oak Leaves and Swords to the Knight’s Cross was almost identical to the Oak Leaves, but now featured two crossed swords beneath the leaf cluster. The second instituted award of September 28, 1941, was the Oak Leaves with Swords and Diamonds. The new highest award was jeweler made from multiple pieces of silver, gold, or platinum and real or fake diamonds. Recipients were given one set with rhinestones and a second set with real diamonds. On December 29, 1944, with the war reaching its climax and acts of bravery and achievements becoming greater, a final grade was introduced, the Knight’s Cross with Gold Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds. Originally intended for the 12 most distinguished service members in the German military, made of real gold and diamonds, only one set was awarded before the end of the war to Oberst Hans Ulrich Rudel.
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