Original Rare CASED, MERITORIOUS ORDER OF THE GERMAN EAGLE 2ND CLASS WITH SWORDS. (Verdienstordern vom deutschen Adler, Zweiter Stufe mit Schwertern, in Etui) Brought Home By A U.S. Veteran Certified

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Original Rare CASED, MERITORIOUS ORDER OF THE GERMAN EAGLE 2ND CLASS WITH SWORDS. (Verdienstordern vom deutschen Adler, Zweiter Stufe mit Schwertern, in Etui) Brought Home By A U.S. Veteran Certified. As a result of Germany’s defeat in WWI and the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II in November 1918, Germany enacted a new, liberally democratic, constitution in August 1919, (Weimar Republic, Circa 1919-1933), that official abolished the Germanic monarchy and also discontinued all awards and decorations that had been bestowed by the monarchy, although recipients of such awards and decorations were permitted to retain them. The Weimar Republic era was plagued with numerous problems that ranged from the restrictions imposed by the victorious allies in the Treaty of Versailles to mass civil unrest, as well as uncontrollable unemployment and inflation. Although the Weimar Republic era government had a diplomatic corps it did not reinstate the Imperial German awards or decorations or institute any new awards or decorations for bestowal to foreign Statesmen, diplomats and dignitaries. This lack of a visibly appreciative gesture for foreign dignitaries was a political and diplomatic embarrassment for the Germans and as a result on May 1ST 1937 Adolf Hitler instituted the series of the Meritorious Order of the German Eagle specifically for bestowal to deserving, foreign Statesmen, diplomats and dignitaries. Of Note: There were a few exceptions of bestowal of the Order of the German Eagle with the German diplomat and Foreign Affairs Minister, (1938-1945), Joachim von Ribbentrop being conferred a Special Degree of the Order of the German Eagle on February 4TH 1938 and German diplomat and Foreign Affairs Minister (1932-1938), Constantin von Neurath also being conferred a Special Degree of the Order of the German Eagle on April 29TH 1939. Originally the Order of the German Eagle was instituted in six varying grades with regulations of April 20TH 1939 establishing an additional grade, the Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle in Gold, along with permission for the addition of crossed swords for the other grades of the award when it was to be issued to personnel who had displayed distinguished military merit. Further regulation of December 27TH 1943 revised and expanded the grades of the Order of the German Eagle to a total of nine. Interestingly the designations of the 1943 versions of the awards were altered to, “Class”, (Klasse), instead of previous designation of, “Degree”, (Stufe). Although the basic design of the Meritorious Order of the German Eagle was retained with the 1939 and 1943 revisions and expansions there were subtle difference, primarily in the ribbon suspension loops and rings, where applicable, and the manufacturer’s markings. Of Interest: Notable recipients of one of the Meritorious Order of the German Eagle include Italy’s Duce Benito Mussolini who was conferred a unique, one of a kind, Grand Cross of the Order of the German Eagle with Diamonds, Spain’s Generalissimo Francisco Franco, Bulgaria’s Tsar Boris III, Hungary’s Regent Admiral Nicholas Horthy, Romania’s Marshal Ion Victor Antonescu, Finland’s President Risto Heikki Ryti and Field Marshall Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, among others. This example is cased, 1939 version of the the Meritorious Order of the German Eagle 2ND degree with swords. Of Note: After the revisions and expansions of the awards in 1943 this example would have been re-designated as a 4TH Class award. Roughly 50mm square, very nice quality, finely made, slightly convexed, die struck, silver alloy construction, Maltese style cross with white enamel work and a fired gilted finish. The cross features a fire gilted, Third Reich era, national eagle with down swept wings, clutching a wreathed, canted, swastika on a white enamel background field, situated between each of the cross’s arms. The arms of the cross are finished in white enamel with a fine, fire gilted, outer edge stripe and small, “v” indentations to the ends of each arm. Mounted to the obverse, center, of the cross are two, fire gilted, stamped alloy, crossed swords which are attached by a single, small, dome headed, rivet which is visible to the reverse. The addition of the crossed swords indicate it was issued for distinguished military merit. The slightly convexed, solid reverse of the award has an elongated, soldered, barrel type hinge, a vertical, tapered pin and a heavy, soldered, “C”, catch all intact. The pin is well marked with the stamped, silver content numeral, “900” indicating 90% silver and the manufacturer’s code, “21” indicating manufacture by Gobet. The award is in overall very good condition with all the enamel work still intact and light age tarnish to the gilt washed, high silver content components. The award comes housed in it’s original cardboard and wood construction presentation case with a simulated, finely grained, bright red leather covering. The top lid of the case has an impressed, gilt washed, Third Reich era national eagle, with out-stretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted swastika in it’s talons and a fine, impressed gilt stripe to the outer edges. The fold back top lid has a magnetic, staggered, bar hinge to the reverse and a gilt and silver washed, hinged, magnetic and alloy, closure clip to the obverse. The hinge and the closure clip still function. The interior of the top lid is lined in white satin with the faint, gilt printed, award designation, “Verdienstkrues II. Stufe des Ordens vom Deutschen Alder mit Schwerten”. The interior bottom of the case has a black velvety, flock lining with a small, circular recess with a deeper, narrow rectangular recess to accommodate the award and the reverse pin and catch assembly. A very rare medal brought home by a U.S. Veteran. Complete museum documentation (COA) Provided. Nice used example in excellent condition showing the expected age and slight storage wear. 100% Guaranteed to be authentic Brought home by a solider as a trophy of war. Recovered from the Schloss Klessheim storage in Austria that was captured by the U.S. 3rd Infantry and their support units. Certified by The Gettysburg Museum of History. The Gettysburg Museum of History does not support or condone Adolf Hitler or the Nazi Party and is only offering this as a historic relic. Please see our other items.  Also note when browsing our web site there are several pages of items, at the bottom of the list look for other page numbers. VERY RARE HIGH QUALITY MEDAL! DO NOT MISS THIS!