War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords (Kriegsverdienst Kreuz 2. Klasse mit Schwerter). The War Merit Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 18 October 1939. The cross is a nice tombak example and comes with its original 8cms long sized ribbon as found. The cross is nicely maker marked with number '85' indicating production by the company of 'Julius Pietsch' from Gablonz an der Neiße, a rarely seen manufacturer. Nice original cross in good condition!