Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords in 900 Silver by Deschler

The Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords shows superb detail and a fine, uncleaned patina, with a brighter silver finish observable on the center reverse where the surface was protected from the air. The decoration is suspended on a short length of original neck ribbon. The interior of the lower arm bears the “900” silver mark, while on the opposite side of the interior arm is the LDO code mark of “1”, reflecting production by the firm of Deschler & Son. The reverse side exhibits the distinctive die flaw of original examples of this award between the “9” and the “3” in the year “1939”. The Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross is one of the rarest awards of the Third Reich, with only 118 having been given (when, by comparison, the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to 7,161 recipients). Individuals who were among the few who received the Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross with Swords included rocket scientist Werner von Braun; the Chief of the Gestapo, Heinrich Mueller; and Ernst Kaltenbrunner, who was Reinhard Heydrich’s successor as Chief of the Reich Main Security Office. An original example of an exceptionally scarce award in superb condition.