Another popular WW1 collectable medal from the 1st major prolific military campaign ever waged! These German medals are gaining value as WW1 reached its 100 year anniversary in 2014 & prices of original items have been driven up by the shear amount of interest of younger & newer collectors on the market. Although many thousands were issued, the demand is rising & they are becoming ever more sought after, especially maker marked examples such as this. Marked G 13 to the rear of the medal & bears the dates of WW1 1914 to 1918 within a wreath set within a cross. Two ( 2 ) crossed swords denote the award was issued to a combatant as medals without swords were issued to non combatants & also in black to widows or next of kin of soldiers killed! 

The medal was instituted by Field Marshall Paul Von Hindenburg in 1934 & was the first official service medal instituted to honour the soldiers who took part in WW1. Wrongly known as The Hindenburg Cross its actual name The Honour Cross of the World War 1914 to 1918, German ( Das Ehrenkruez des Weltkriegs 1914 / 18 ) was also issued to Austro Hungarian soldiers but with the distinct trifold ( triangular shaped ) ribbon. This is a German example with original ribbon & in good condition!