Iron Cross 2nd Class (military)

Iron Cross, 2nd Class retrieved from an unknown German submariner at the surrender of the German Fleet 1918.

The medal is in the form of a black cross pattée within a silver frame. On the obverse is the Royal Cypher ‘W’ with the Imperial crown at the top and the date ‘1914’ below. On the reverse is a crowned ‘FW’ on the top arm and the date of inception, 1813, on the bottom arm. At the intersection of the arms is a spray of oak leaves and two acorns. The cross is fitted with a black ribbon with white stripes near each edge.