Original W.W.II period german iron cross 2nd class (Eisernes Kreuz), marked with the number "122" which means that the manufacturer was J.J.Stahl from Strassbourg

The standard 1939 Iron Cross was issued in the following two grades:

• Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse)

• Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz 1. Klasse)

The Iron Cross was awarded for bravery in battle as well as other military contributions in a battlefield environment.The Iron Cross 2nd Class came with a ribbon and was worn in one of three different methods:

• From the second button of the tunic.

• When in formal dress, the entire cross was worn mounted alone or as part of a medal bar.

• For everyday wear, only the ribbon was worn from the second hole in the tunic button.

The Iron Cross First Class was a pin-on medal with no ribbon and was worn centred on a uniform breast pocket, either on dress uniforms or everyday outfit. It was a progressive award, with second class having to be earned before the first class and so on for the higher degrees.It is estimated that some four and a half million Second Class Iron Crosses were awarded in the Second World War, and 300,000 of the First Class. Two Iron Cross First Class recipients were women, one of whom was test pilot Hanna Reitsch. Two Jewish officers of the Finnish army and one female Lotta Svärd member were awarded Iron Crosses, but they would not accept them.