German 1939 Iron Cross Stickpin

A miniature stickpin in the form of the 1939 Iron Cross, with black enameled fields, white-metal borders, and a central raised emblem above the date "1939". The cross sits atop a twisted-shaft pin mount. This type of miniature was worn on civilian lapels by veterans and holders of the Iron Cross as an informal indication of the award.

The Iron Cross was reinstituted by Adolf Hitler on 1 September 1939, reviving a Prussian military decoration first created in 1813, and was awarded for bravery or leadership in combat throughout the Second World War across all branches of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS. Miniature stickpin versions such as this were privately purchased items, worn on civilian clothing to discreetly signal that the wearer had received the award, a common practice among veterans in the post-war period as well as during the war itself.