Cross of Honour question

[Brian Wolfe]

Hello Everyone,

While out hunting for treasures in one of the many antiques malls in our area I saw a Cross of Honour with crossed swords (a.k.a. Hindenberg Cross?) and on this cross was some wording that included a mention of the Kriegsmarine. Having been taken advantage of in the recent past I did not purchase it, especially at $80.00. I came home and went through as many posts on the forum as my eyes could stand with no mention of a Cross of Honour issued to the Kriegsmarine. When I returned to the same mall a few weeks later the cross was gone.

Did I just miss the buy of a lifetime or did I dodge a bullet? I do seem to attract fantasy items lately.

Cheers

Brian

[Great Dane]

I believe what you refer to is the socalled 'Flandernkreuz'. An unofficial award worn from a red-white-black ribbon.

The legend on one side says "Zur See Unbesiegt Im Felde" and on the other "Marinekorps 1914/18"

I would say that $80 is pretty much the going rate for these...

/Mike

[Tom Y]

This one?

[Brian Wolfe]

Hello fellows,

Nope. This one was pretty much the same as the common Cross of Honour with crossed sword except there was an inscription on the obverse. The only word I knew was Kriegsmarine. The wording was "struck" and not engraved. It looked correct as far as age goes but then it is hard to tell anymore.

Brian

[Kev in Deva]

Hello fellows,

Nope. This one was pretty much the same as the common Cross of Honour with crossed sword except there was an inscription on the obverse. The only word I knew was Kriegsmarine. The wording was "struck" and not engraved. It looked correct as far as age goes but then it is hard to tell anymore.

Brian

Hallo Brian

I cannot recall ever seeing a H. K. H. of any type with an impressed inscription, if done, it was done privately and as the Crosses were issued circa 1934 onwards most carried some type of a maker mark on various locations of the cross rear,

I believe the real early pieces were issued in bronze and as the war progressed the material was changed.

With regards age: The Cross was being made I believe up to about 30 years ago, and before these I think over 6 and a half million Combatant types were issued upon application, the later German Republic issue as replacements to German veterans, carried no Maker mark to the rear, therefore leaving a clean surface to take a struck "inscription".

I have even seen screwback versions of the H.C.H. on Ebay for sale!!

Kevin in Deva