German Awards - World War I "Iron Cross 1914

The Iron Cross of World War I was established by the Emperor and King William II. established on 5 August 1914. Thus, after 1870 it was the 2nd renewal on 10 March 1813 of Friedrich Wilhelm III. The Iron Cross was first awarded.
This military award is unique in its symbolism and fame in the German award system. The Iron Cross, as before, was awarded in 3 classes, the Grand Cross, 1st class and 2nd class. For fighters, it was awarded on a black and white ribbon, and for non-combatant - on a white and black ribbon (2nd grade).
This category gradually presents the most common forms and variants. These include officially issued items, so-called award pieces, and privately purchased items, which are in part very popular with collectors due to special carrying systems. Due to the large number of manufacturers and suppliers, various types of cores are also known, which vary in crown design, annual numbers, the letter W, and the back of oak foliage.
The following letter abbreviations can be attributed to specific suppliers of the 1st class:
- CD - Carl Dillenius, also with silver stamp -/- AWS - A.Werner & Söhne, Berlin (no 2nd class )/- Fr, Fr, Fr within - Friedländer brothers, Berlin/- G - J. Godet & Sohn, Berlin or Glaser & Sohn, Dresden/- K.M.S.T., K.M.St., KMST, K.M., KM, K, also with silver stamp - Royal Mint of Stuttgart/- KO - Klein & Quenzer, Oberstein also with silver stamp/- PM, P.M. - Paul Meybauer, Berlin. (no 2 .class) - S-W, S&W - Sy & Wagner, Berlin also with silver mark/- we, We - J.H. Werner/- WS, W.S., W&S, WuS, JW, J.W., J.W.S. - all JohS Wagner & Sohn, Berlin/Manufacturers in 3 .Reich denoted by the number LDO, e.g. L/10,...,L/52, etc
Corporate crest - Meybauer, Berlin/AWS corporate crest, announced suppliers: Paul Meybauer - on screw discs D.R.G.M.653146, F.Sedlatzek, Godet-Berlin, J.H.Werner-Berlin, M.Hansen, (Kiel) in mainly on screw discs, S y-Wagner, JOH. WAGNER&SOHN - BERLIN.W., German Officers' Association (not manufacturer only supplier), D.R.G.M. stands for German Imperial Pattern of Use with corresponding number.

The following letter abbreviations can be assigned to specific vendors that are not Class 1 vendors:
- D - Wilhelm Deumer, Lüdenscheid (possibly also Deschler, München )/- K, K within - W. Kluge & Co ./- N - C.E. Neuhaus & Söhne, Berlin/- R - E. Rosenthal & Sohn/- S - Heinrich Schneider, Leipzig, also Schaper or Scharer fenberg possible/- WILM - H.J. W ilm, Berlin also with silver mark/- Z - H. Ten, Berlin/- E:W, E.W - Emil Wiechmann/- LW - Luis Werner/- R.Sch. - Richard Schulze, Friedrichshagen/- LV (with and without number) - Iron Cross Delivery Association/- H - F. Hoffstetter, Bonn/- M - B.H. Mayer, Pforzheim/- MM - Mail and Mayer, Pforzheim

The following letter abbreviations cannot be assigned to a specific vendor, but are used:
- A - (also assigned to vendor F.A. Assmann but not confirmed) no 1st class/- B - (possibly by Bury & Leonhard, Hanau)/ - HB - no 1st class/- H.B.G. - no 2nd class, it is possible that HB and H.B.G. are suppliers/- HTB - no 2nd class (long transverse line T )/- K.A.G. - 1st and 2nd class/- KP - no 1st class/- +(M) + also with silver stamp, without 1st class/- MEH - also with silver stamp, without 1st class/- V - no 1. Class/- coat of arms with 3 circles - silver stamps, without 2. Class/-Y - silver stamps/-quadrate - without 2. Class (there can also be a bill)
Silver stamps were used on the backs:
Silver, 500, 750, 800, 835, 900, 925, 935, 938, 950, half moon with crown, half moon with crown and silver stamp, e.g. 800