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 was established by Hitler on 18 October 1939 as a means of rewarding wartime service that fell outside the scope of front-line combat, filling a gap left by the Iron Cross. The unadorned "without swords" grade was reserved for civilians, officials, medical personnel, and workers in war-related industries and administration whose efforts supported the German war effort without direct exposure to combat. It became one of the most widely distributed Third Reich decorations, reflecting the regime's effort to mobilise and recognise the home front alongside the military.