Original German WWII War Merit Cross Without Swords Second Class With Ribbon Marked

Original German WWII War Merit Cross Without Swords Second Class Without Ribbon Marked-This original War Merit Cross 2nd Class Without Swords was instituted by Adolf Hitler in 1939 as a successor to the non-combatant Iron Cross from earlier conflicts. It was awarded to civilians for outstanding service in support of the war effort, while the versionwith swordswas presented to military personnel for exceptional service not directly involving combat. Notably, recipients were typically awarded the versionwithout swordsbefore becoming eligible for thewith swordsvariant.This is an original example of the War Merit Cross 2nd Class without Swords. The cross exhibits a nice, even patina consistent with age. It is maker-marked on the ribbon ring, though the marking is unfortunately illegible. The original ribbon is missing, but the medal itself remains in very good condition.