Iron Cross 1st Class, 1939. Eisernes Kreuz I Klasse.

Iron Cross 1st Class, 1939. Eisernes Kreuz I Klasse.
On March 10TH 1813, Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm III established the Iron Cross as a temporary award for bestowal during times of war. The Iron Crosses were reinstituted by King Wilhelm I on July 19TH 1870 for award during the Franco-Prussian War and again on August 5TH 1914, by King Wilhelm II for award during WWI. On September 1ST 1939 Hitler once more re-instituted the Iron Cross series of awards in the First and Second Classes and established the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. EK I - 1939 pattern, die struck, three piece, non magnetic and nickel/silver plated alloy construction Patte style cross with a single piece brass/tombak core and a two piece alloy frame. The obverse of the award features an embossed, central, canted, swastika with the re-institution date, "1939", to the bottom arm. The swastika stands out in nice, high relief while the date is somewhat lower. The plain reverse has a solid, soldered block type hinge, a broad, tapering vertical pin and a catch all intact. The cross has no visible manufacturers markings.
Condition: Good condition. As the pictures shown.