Jacques

Another copy marked "935"

Another one, unmarked but with crude detail, which also a copy in my opinion.

The cross for Next of Kin was instituted on (14.4.1939, RGBl. IS. 1362). It was destinated to the parents of the soldiers who died in Spain or following their wounds, or missed in action. It was awarded 315 times. Just One cross was awarded to the family, in the order to the wife, son, daughter, father, mother, brother, sister. The cross looks like a small bronze cross wothout sword. it is maintain with a ribbon. the cross measures 42mm. It is in bronze and very well detailed. the design is only on the obverse, the reverse is smooth. the eagle's swasticas could be cut out or massives (Gerd's cross). the cross is never maker's marked. It was awarded in a black case of which the upper lid shows an effigie of the cross. A Document was also sent to the family with the name of the recipient (wife, etc...) It seems that the family eceived too the spansih cross awarded posthumously to the deceased (gold , silver) plus the spanish decorations among which the "medalla de sufrimientos por la patria". here are some copies from my files. The first is an old copy from the 70's, with drop tail eagles, MM L/12 GODET 938. jacques

Not a "Cruz de Guerra" document but another illustration of the caligraphy. I noticed that some of them have a number hand-written at the top right.

I have identified few manufacturers of the Spanish crosses. Some of them manufactured the crosses as soon as 1939, some others later (at least after LDO institution). Here is a non exhaustive list: - C.E. Juncker Berlin - P. Meybauer Berlin - Godet & Sohn Berlin (I've not yet identified this maker on other Spanish crosses than Diamonds ones) - W. Deumer L?denscheid - Steinhauer & L?ck L?denscheid - Foerster & Barth Pforzheim - Otto Schickle Pforzheim - CF. Zimmermann Pforzheim - B.H. Mayer Pforzheim Some miscelaneous: - Berg & Nolte L?denscheid - Peltz & Lorenz - F.R Sedlatzeck Berlin Jacques

Something interesting to note with these documents. When you look at the date "6.juni 1939.", it is followed by a dot for the Luftwaffe documents, and no dot for the KM and Army ones. jacques

Hi John, Fine document ! I still not have it in my collection. Do you have the other documents of this guy ?. Which is particular interesting with your is that is was not awarded to a soldier but o an employee. Today I saw one , the same as your in a german collection. It is accompagnied with the spanish cross in bronze document for a cooker, noted "empleado" on the spanish document.

just a pic to illustrate its wear.

Thanks the badge has been in my collection for several years, and it will stay jumping , with its hollow comrade jacques

Hi VAL, I think too that your is a repro. The class IV numbered GAB must look like exactly to Stogiemann one. As mentionned Mike, many details of your one do not match with the originals (Catch ,pin form, figures, rivets, Maker's mark , eagle details, wreath, color).

Isn't the same which was to sell on WAF ? I don't collect WWI items but I have been tempted to buy it at the time, just to put with some pics of it worn I own. jacques

Hi, I alsa have two other Spanish crosses marked L/52, but this one presents all the details required for a genuine cross of this manufacturer, except the "". May be the stamper was tipsy... jacques

If that can help you

Even when you get an aluminium one, keep this one too. jacques

Last one: Gold cross in gilded tombac with no MM.

Sixth one: Silver cross stamped "L/12 900", TO be noted that the "900" differs from the two first ones. the cross is more crude than the early models.

Fifth one: Bronze cross marked L/12. The same can be encountered with no mark.

Fourth one: Gold cross marked "900"

Third one: Bronze cross stamped only CEJ

second one GOld cross in massive silver, marked CEJ 900 with the large figures. To be noted that the "900" is upside down.

Juncker is one the few firms of which Meybauer, Steinhauer, Godet , that manufactured the spanish crosses for the massive award parades of May 31th, June 3rd and 4th 1939. As usual, Juncker crosses are very well detailed and of a high quality. The firm used several MM. I have encountered the following ones: "900", "900 + CEJ", "CEJ", then with LDO numbers "L/12", "L/12 900", and unmarked ones. the crosses were manufactured in bronze, tombac, massive silver. two variants exist of the MM "CEJ 900" with a larger "900". Eagles: they are sharp detailed. the swas show 2 cut out branches. Swords: the grips have 7 twists. they are larger than the Meybauer ones. Pin: generally the pins are massives and large at the top. Hook: the hook is of a half-moon section, always directly soldered to the cross. First one Silver cross in massive silver, marked CEJ 900 with the small figures.

Hello Richard, Both crosses are copies in my opinion. the Honor cross marked L/12 is a known copy: drop tail eagles, bad MM (L/12 is for Juncker). The other cross is a copy too: bad details compare to an original CEJ, bad MM, and to my knowledge the silver crosses stamped CEJ are in massive silver stamped "900". Don't buy these crosses, or if it's too late send them return and get your money back. jacques

3 maker's marks

Compulsing my files, it appear that these spanish documents ( all medals ) are dated : 30 sept 38; 1 dec 38; 4 mai 39; 5 dec 39; 7 mars 40. These documents were sent by post by the "Reichsministerium" to the address of the recipients from their return (mai 1939, to 1943) according to the dates stamped on the accompagning letters. I think that that some of these docs were made in Spain and then sent to LW Ministerium, but in my opinion, the main part were signed (facsimile) then sent to Germany to be completed with name and rank; compiled with the spanish cross document and sent to the family. May be some of our spanish collector could help us on this point. jacques

Here is another one. it's more decorated, the name is written with red capital letter, thus the medals' name. there is no stamp on this one, just the signature. More over, the date is different. Nevertheless, I think that all the crosses were awarded later in May 1939, and the documents sent to the family between 1939 and 1941. jacques