An original WWII German Iron Cross 1st Class Screwback (1939) manufactured by C. E. Juncker, Berlin (L/12). Complete with its original screw fastening disc, this scarce three-piece construction example retains an attractive untouched patina and represents a highly desirable addition to any serious collection of Second World War German militaria.
€ 850
An original Second World War German Iron Cross 1st Class Screwback (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse) complete with its original screw fastening disc. The award features the classic three-piece construction with a black magnetic iron core and silvered frame, displaying the swastika to the centre and the date 1939 to the lower arm.
The reverse is fitted with its original screwback post and is clearly marked L/12, identifying manufacture by the renowned Berlin firm C. E. Juncker. One of the most respected wartime producers of German military decorations, Juncker was known for its high manufacturing standards and precision craftsmanship. The cross retains an attractive untouched patina, with the silvered frame displaying honest age toning and the magnetic iron core preserving much of its original black finish.
This example is complete with its original screw fastening disc and remains in untouched collector condition. The screwback system provided a particularly secure attachment to the tunic and was produced in considerably smaller numbers than the standard pin-back Iron Cross. Complete Juncker screwback examples have become increasingly difficult to source and remain highly sought after by advanced collectors.
Instituted by Adolf Hitler on 1 September 1939, the Iron Cross 1st Class was awarded only after the recipient had first received the Iron Cross 2nd Class and subsequently distinguished themselves through further acts of bravery or exceptional military leadership. Worn on the left breast pocket of the field tunic, it remains one of the most iconic military decorations of the Second World War.
An excellent original screwback Iron Cross by C. E. Juncker (L/12), complete with its original screw disc, representing a scarce and highly desirable addition to any serious collection of German militaria.
The Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz) was first established by King Frederick William III of Prussia in 1813 during the Napoleonic Wars. It was later reissued in 1870, 1914, and finally in 1939, when Adolf Hitler reinstated the decoration at the outbreak of the Second World War.
The Iron Cross 1st Class recognised repeated acts of bravery, distinguished leadership or exceptional service in combat. Soldiers could only receive the decoration after first being awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class, making it a prestigious recognition of continued gallantry.
While the majority of Iron Cross 1st Class awards were manufactured with a conventional pin-back fitting, a relatively limited number were produced with a screwback fastening, offering a secure method of attachment to the uniform. These early screwback examples are considerably scarcer than their pin-back counterparts and are particularly desirable when complete with their original screw fastening discs.
C. E. Juncker, based in Berlin, was one of Germany’s premier manufacturers of military decorations throughout the Third Reich. As an authorised member of the LDO (Leistungsgemeinschaft der Deutschen Ordenshersteller), the company used the manufacturer code L/12 on its wartime awards. Juncker decorations are widely recognised for their superior quality and are among the most sought-after maker-marked examples by collectors today.
Very good original condition throughout with attractive untouched patina. The magnetic iron core retains much of its original black finish with light service-related wear, while the silvered frame displays pleasing natural age toning with minor areas of finish loss consistent with wartime age. The reverse retains its original screwback post together with the original screw fastening disc. The L/12 maker mark remains clearly visible on the reverse. Honest age-related wear is entirely consistent with wartime manufacture and long-term preservation. Please study the photographs carefully as they form part of the description.
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