Germany, Wehrmacht. A War Merit Cross I Class, With Swords And Case, By Kerbach & Österhelt Buy Now he calmly directed the fire

he calmly directed the fire of his squad and that of a nearby tank on four enemy stone and concrete emplacements

topped by a red toorie

when he was transferred - presumably to enter military service

measuring 210 mm (w) x 270 mm (h)

the 3rd battalion

Germany, Wehrmacht. A War Merit Cross I Class, With Swords And Case, By Kerbach & Österhelt Buy Now he calmly directed the fire(Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse mit Schwertern). Constructed of silvered tombak, consisting of a Maltese Cross with crossed swords piercing the centrepiece, the obverse with pebbled arms, bearing a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse with a raised barrel hinge and banjo style pinback meeting a flat wire catch, the reverse of the pinback maker marked with Prsidialkanzlei code 62 for Kerbach & sterheld, Dresden, measuring 48. 53 mm (w) x 48.