Description
Product Description: This Spanish Cross Postcard is an attractive and scarce piece that appears to be a three-color lithograph. It depicts a gold Spanish Cross with Swords on a lovely orange field, within a black border. The designation of the award, “Spanienkreuz mit Schwertern,” is printed below the detailed illustration of the badge. The reverse of this postcard shows that it was never used. There is printed text giving the name of the publisher, C. Pahl & Co., and the artist, Bruno Karberg, both in Hamburg. The text further identifies this postcard as part of a series depicting “War Orders of the German Reich” and gives some basic information about the award. This Spanish Cross Postcard shows some age and wear, with surface marks, corner and edge wear, and some tiny areas of paper loss to the reverse corners from having been pasted in an album. It retains bright original color and displays nicely. The condition rates as very good plus.
Historical Description: The German Spanish Cross, was a crossover award between Germany and its ally, fascist Spain. This medal signified the collaboration and military cooperation between the two countries, particularly during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The Spanish Cross was established on April 14, 1939, by Adolf Hitler, shortly after the Nationalists’ victory in Spain. The award was available in two classes of three grades: with swords for combatants, and without swords for non-combatants, both classes in Bronze, Silver, or Gold Grades. The Bronze award with swords was for combatants, the Silver award with swords was for soldiers who took part in decisive battles and who had considerable fighting experience, and the Gold award was for great merit. The highest grade. The Spanish Cross in Gold with Diamonds, was very rarely awarded and reserved for those who showed the greatest merit or who had high leadership skills in battle. There was also a version made for the next of kin of men who had been killed; this was a medal suspended from a ribbon, rather than a pin-on badge. Unlike most German awards, the Spanish Cross was worn on the right side of the uniform.
With nearly 30 years of expertise handling, collecting, and studying some of the finest and scarcest military collectibles, Empires Past offers the best prices for your collectibles.
We purchase German, American, and Japanese Military Artifacts.
FROM SINGLE ITEMS TO ENTIRE COLLECTIONS…
WE ARE ALWAYS BUYING!!!
