Germany, Third Reich. An Order of the German Eagle, Silver Merit Medal with Swords, by the Vienna Mint Archive A Kriegsmarine Officer’s breast eagle

A Kriegsmarine Officer’s breast eagle

Light crazing in the enamels on the Red Cross insignia

the insignia in yellow embroidery on a black wool base

bearing an engraved membership code and date of “6

but with approximately 50% of the original silvering remaining

Germany, Third Reich. An Order of the German Eagle, Silver Merit Medal with Swords, by the Vienna Mint Archive A Kriegsmarine Officer’s breast eagle(Deutsche Verdienstmedaille mit Schwertern in Silber). Instituted 1 May 1937. (1943 1945 issue). Constructed of silver, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon with horizontal pinback, the obverse bearing a raised Maltese Cross with its arms joined through the quadrants by NSDAP style German national eagles clutching wreathed mobile swastikas, topped by a crossed sword clasp, the reverse bearing an inscription of DEUTSCHE VERDIENST