Type Clasp Status Obsolete | Campaign(s) World War II Established 1 September 1939 | |
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Eligibility Military personnel who had already received the Iron Cross (1914) for bravery in battle as well as other military contributions in a battlefield environment. | ||
The Clasp to the Iron Cross (Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz) was a metal medal clasp displayed on the uniforms of German Wehrmacht personnel who had been awarded the Iron Cross in World War I.
Description
A holder of the 1914 Iron Cross could be awarded a second or higher grade of the 1939 Iron Cross. To permit the two medals to be worn together, a "1939 Clasp" (Spange) would be worn on the original 1914 Iron Cross. It depicted a national eagle clutching an oak leaf wreath surrounding a swastika above a trapezoid bearing the year 1939. It was attached to the 1914 Iron Cross medal ribbon through a tunic button. A similar award had been made in 1914 but was quite rare, since there were few in service at that time who held the even earlier 1870 Iron Cross.
For the First Class award, the larger but identical clasp, was pinned directly on the upper breast pocket above the Iron Cross 1st class (1914) of the wearer. This pin-back clasp was usually awarded in a presentation case.