Militärverdienstkreuz 2.Kl / 3.Kl… Help needed

[Marcus66]

Hi all,

 

I need some help identifying the makers of 3 crosses in my collection.  I am aware of the following makers:

 

Hemmerle, Munich

Jacob Leser, Straubing

Deschler & Sohn, Munich

Christian Lauer, Nuremberg

Weiss & Cie., Munich

Poellathm Schrobenhausen (subcontractor of Hemmerle)

 

Unfortunately I do not have any literature regarding the identification method for each maker of cross.  Therefore a few questions.  What subtle differences are used to identify each maker?  I know the Deschler cross have a “D” on the sword arm etc, but are the other crosses identifiable with any maker marks?  I have two crosses which appear to have an etching or stamping in the upper left arm when looking at the reverse of the cross.  I can make out an H, an C, perhaps two Ms but the remaining characters are far under the arm.  

 

Can someone identify these crosses by manufacturer and also provide a chart or reference on how to identify crosses from each manufacturer?

 

Thank you 

 

Marcus

 

Cross 1:

 

 

 

Cross 2:

 

[spolei]

Hello, the first cross is a relatively early Hemmerle 2nd class.
Cross 2 is from Weiss. It is easily recognisable by the thick sword handles and the agraffe.
The surface of the cross is strange, it looks like it has been painted over, but that may be due to the photos.
Weiss also has the marking WCo on the back of a sword.
With Hemmerle sometimes GH and a sophisticated 800 on the back of a sword.
There are also Hemmerle that have GH in the agraffe.
There were several variations over the four years of the war.
I have been collecting for almost 20 years and have over 100 different variants, but by no means all of them.
Some MVK of my collection, see pictures.
Regards Andreas

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[Marcus66]

2 hours ago, spolei said:

Hello, the first cross is a relatively early Hemmerle 2nd class.
Cross 2 is from Weiss. It is easily recognisable by the thick sword handles and the agraffe.
The surface of the cross is strange, it looks like it has been painted over, but that may be due to the photos.
Weiss also has the marking WCo on the back of a sword.
With Hemmerle sometimes GH and a sophisticated 800 on the back of a sword.
There are also Hemmerle that have GH in the agraffe.
There were several variations over the four years of the war.
I have been collecting for almost 20 years and have over 100 different variants, but by no means all of them.
Some MVK of my collection, see pictures.
Regards Andreas

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

 

Andreas,

 

Thank you for the most valuable information.  I very much appreciate your expertise in this area!  Your collection is most impressive!

 

I also have several cased crosses in my collection as well.  Looking at the back of the sword on the first cross posted, I now can see that it is the GH800.  I also have a militarverdienstkreuz 3.Kl with the same marking (GH800) so am now aware that it is a Hemmerle 3 Kl.  Where exactly on the agraffe on other crosses would any markings be located? 

 

Kind Regards,

 

Marcus

Edited September 5, 2022 by Marcus66

[spolei]

Hello,
usually the 800 was filed out, because it stands for the silver content. The swords for the MVO were made with the same shape and were silver. The swords of the MVK's were made of non-ferrous metal and were not allowed to carry an 800 mark. Now and then this was not filed away properly or simply forgotten. This applies to all classes of the MVK.
Here is a cross from Hemmerle with GH in the agraffe, below the screw
The last is a marked Hemmerle with swords from Weiss & Co.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Edited September 5, 2022 by spolei

[chuck]

5 hours ago, spolei said:

Hello, the first cross is a relatively early Hemmerle 2nd class.
Cross 2 is from Weiss. It is easily recognisable by the thick sword handles and the agraffe.
The surface of the cross is strange, it looks like it has been painted over, but that may be due to the photos.
Weiss also has the marking WCo on the back of a sword.
With Hemmerle sometimes GH and a sophisticated 800 on the back of a sword.
There are also Hemmerle that have GH in the agraffe.
There were several variations over the four years of the war.
I have been collecting for almost 20 years and have over 100 different variants, but by no means all of them.
Some MVK of my collection, see pictures.
Regards Andreas

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

very nice collection.

 

Regards,

chuck