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 Adolf Hitler on 18 October 1939 as a means of honouring contributions to the German war effort outside the sphere of front-line combat, complementing the Iron Cross which remained reserved for acts of battlefield gallantry. The Second Class without swords was the base grade of the award, typically bestowed on civil servants, industrial workers, medical and administrative personnel, and others whose non-combatant service was deemed valuable to the state. Given its broad eligibility criteria, it became one of the most commonly awarded decorations of the Third Reich era, issued in large numbers across military, governmental, and industrial sectors throughout the war.