German War Merit Cross Second Class Without Swords, 1939 This is a War Merit Cross Second Class, without swords, retaining its original red-white-black ribbon. The obverse displays a swastika at center within a wreath, and the reverse carries the date 1939 in a laurel surround, the standard reverse for this class of the decoration. The War Merit Cross was instituted by Hitler in October 1939 to recognize wartime service and contributions made away from combat duty, distinguishing it from the Iron Cross, which was reserved for frontline gallantry. The "without swords" variant was awarded for meritorious civilian or non-combatant service, while the version with swords denoted a role closer to the front. It was issued widely throughout the Wehrmacht, civil administration, and war industries during the Second World War. The War Merit Cross Second Class Without Swords was one of the most widely distributed German decorations of the Second World War, granted to civil servants, industrial workers, medical personnel, and administrators whose contributions supported the war effort without direct combat exposure. Its introduction in 1939 reflected the regime's effort to extend a system of state recognition beyond the military to the broader home front, mirroring the Iron Cross in prestige structure while remaining distinct from it. Recipients ranged from factory managers to railway officials, making surviving examples relatively common compared to combat awards.