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Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2.Klasse mit Schwertern

The War Merit Cross second class bronze with swords (Kriegsverdienstkreuz 2. klasse mit Schwertern) also know as the KVK 2 was instituted on 18-10-1939 by Hitler. This award could be awarded to military personal as well as to civilians (m/f) for bravery not directly connected with frontline actions. For example: maintenance of frontline vehicles and equipment, outstanding performance by the civil defence and security tasks. (For more information see also the War Merit cross second class without swords.)

This award is shaped like a large Maltese cross and measures 1.9" across. The cross is struck in different metals, but mostly in zinc. The crosses made of zinc were subsequently bronze washed. Some specimens were struck in bronze, but these are very rare. The Maltese cross has a raised border, with a pebbled surface within these borders. In the middle of the cross lies a wreath of oak leaves with a knotted ribbon on top and bottom. A swastika is placed in the center of the wreath. The reverse of the badge has a smooth surface and shows the same wreath, except for the inscription 1939 instead of the swastika. The wreath measures 0.6" in width. In this version of the War Merit Cross two swords are placed diagonally through the cross. These swords are broad double-edged, as in the Roman military design.
On top of the upper arm of the cross, an eyelet is mounted with a ring attached to it.
The badge is suspended from a ribbon, passing through this ring. The ribbon is 1.18" wide and is the reverse of the ribbon used for the Iron Cross 1939, e.g. a central black vertical stripe .55" in width , flanked by a thin white and a thin red stripe, each .15" in width.
The mint mark was usually stamped on the ring; some well known manufacturers were: Steinhauer & Lück from Lüdenscheid,(4) L. Chr. Lauer LL. from Nürnberg, (14) Karl Wurster KG from Markneukirchen, (18) E. Fred Weidmann from Frankfürt am Main, (19) Willy Annetsberger from München, (34) Julius Bauer& Söhne from Zella-Mehlis, (43) Jakob Bengel from Idar-Oberstein, (44) Frans Jungwirth from Vienna, (45) Robert Hauschild from Pforzheim, (56) Karl Hensler from Pforzheim, (57) Rudolf Tham from Gablonz ad N. (101) and Hermann Aurich from Dresden. (113)

The War Merit Cross with swords was awarded in a blue, red or buff coloured paper bag, with the name of the award printed on it. It was awarded with a standard citation. It is estimated that this version of the War Merit Cross has been awarded 6.134.950 times during the WWII period.


On official occasions or military parades the cross was worn suspended from its ribbon or as part of a group. During active duty only the ribbon was worn through the second buttonhole or as part of a ribbon bar. When it was worn through the buttonhole, it was put behind the ribbon of the Iron Cross 2 and before the Eastern Winter Campaign Medal. (Ostmedaille) but among combat troops it is often seen after the latter because of the higher prestige of the Eastern Winter Campaign Medal.

Achatz, Johann (Unteroffizier)† November 24th, 1943

Adam, Wilhelm (Generalmajor)* March 28th, 1893
† November 24th, 1978

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Grid List
Maack, Franz Johannes "Egon"* April 17th, 1907
† December 9th, 1945

Machowsky, August* August 25th, 1915
† August 7th, 2001

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Maderholz, Karl Ferdinand Konrad* October 29th, 1885
† March 27th, 1964

Maes, Friedrich-Wilhelm* November 25th, 1913
† March 19th, 1945

Magirius, Werner* May 15th, 1920

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Maglakelidze, Shalva* May 2nd, 1893
† November 7th, 1976

Maier, Engelbert* November 5th, 1901
† November 24th, 1944

Maier, Georg* December 27th, 1913
† November 25th, 1943

Maier, German* October 1st, 1894
† December 12th, 1951

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Malzacher, Hans* October 14th, 1896
† October 16th, 1974

Mangold, Karl* June 7th, 1914
† February 9th, 1944

Manitius, Johannes "Hans"* May 12th, 1889
† December 13th, 1950

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Marseille, Siegfried Georg Martin* October 10th, 1887
† January 29th, 1944
Plot: 22 Row: 22 Grave: 841

Martens, Egbert* May 22nd, 1897
† January 26th, 1964

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Martin, Franz* August 7th, 1895

Martin, Jacques* June 12th, 1918
† 2008

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Martini, Wolfgang (Generalleutnant)* September 20th, 1891
† January 6th, 1963

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Mascus, Hellmut* March 30th, 1891
† December 17th, 1971

Matthaei, Gerhard Karl Max (Inf.-Regiment 487)* May 9th, 1896
† August 13th, 1985

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Matthaei, Kurt (Panzerarmee-Nachrichten-Reg.1)* December 25th, 1896
† November 16th, 1976

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Matthaei, Rudolf (Oberstleutnant)* April 23rd, 1887
† August 26th, 1951

Matthiae, Walter* August 3rd, 1880
† June 27th, 1960

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Matzky, Gerhard Ernst Ludwig* March 19th, 1894
† June 9th, 1983

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Mauch, Hans* March 6th, 1906
† January 20th, 1984

Mauchenheim gen. Bechtolsheim, Freiherr von, Theod* August 26th, 1902
† April 20th, 1972

Mauterer, Arthur Dr. Ing.* August 31st, 1888
† April 29th, 1969

Mayer, Alois† November 15th, 1943

Maßmann, Siegfried* February 2nd, 1882
† February 15th, 1944

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Medem, Gerhard (General der Pioniere)* October 14th, 1893
† November 16th, 1953
Grave: UNK

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Medler, Nikolaus† June 15th, 1944

Meendsen-Bohlken, Wilhelm (Konteradmiral)* June 25th, 1897
† August 20th, 1985

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Meentzen, Wilhelm* March 19th, 1915
† May 8th, 2001

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Meilchen, Ernst* December 14th, 1914

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Meise, Wilhelm* August 16th, 1891
† August 17th, 1974

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Meiß, Gerhard Rudolf Hans Walter* March 12th, 1916
† December 16th, 1943

Meißner, Robert* December 23rd, 1888
† August 8th, 1953

Melan, Marcel* July 10th, 1917

Menche, Heinz-Eduard* March 6th, 1886
† December 25th, 1961

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Mengele, Josef Rudolf* March 16th, 1911
† February 7th, 1979

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Mengersen, Ernst* June 30th, 1912
† November 6th, 1995

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Menneking, Rolf* March 20th, 1899
† October 25th, 1967

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Mentzel, Helmut (Generalleutnant)* June 6th, 1891
† August 11th, 1974

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Merk, Ernst* March 7th, 1903
† June 12th, 1976

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Merken, Fritz* September 14th, 1915
† February 3rd, 1943

Merker, Otto (Generaldirektor)* June 1st, 1899
† 1966

Merten, Karl-Friedrich* August 15th, 1905
† May 2nd, 1993

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Mertsch, Gustav* January 17th, 1901
† February 7th, 1986

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Metze, Walter* December 23rd, 1916
† October 6th, 1944

Metzen, Jakob* March 17th, 1914

Metzger, Eugen (Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung 203)* August 1st, 1914
† February 6th, 2004

Meyer, Friedrich-August* September 19th, 1899
† January 4th, 1971

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Meyer, Georg (NSDAP)* July 19th, 1882
† January 29th, 1946

Meyer, Hans* November 29th, 1905
† June 26th, 1944

Meyer, Martin* July 4th, 1903

Meyer, Otto (SS-Panzer-Regiment 9)* December 23rd, 1912
† August 29th, 1944
Plot: 39 Row: 7 Grave: 106

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Meßner, Korbinian* July 13th, 1901
† February 7th, 1945
Grave: 2191

Michahelles, Hans* May 18th, 1899
† June 14th, 1975

Michalsen, Georg (Waffen SS)* September 13th, 1906
† May 21st, 1993

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Michelmann, Axel* April 7th, 1892
† 1986

Michels, Alexander* March 17th, 1891
† June 26th, 1968

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Milius, Siegfried* June 10th, 1916
† August 21st, 1992

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Mispanic, Halim* May 23rd, 1901
† December 16th, 1944

Moehle, Karl-Heinz* July 31st, 1910
† November 27th, 1996

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Mohnke, Wilhelm (Waffen SS)* March 15th, 1911
† August 6th, 2001

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Mohr, Reinhold* September 28th, 1913
† January 14th, 1944

Moll, Josef (29. Panzergrenadier-Division)* September 5th, 1908
† January 7th, 1989

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Morgen, Georg Konrad* June 8th, 1909
† February 4th, 1982

Moser, Hans* November 20th, 1907

Mrugowsky, Joachim Erns A.* August 15th, 1905
† June 2nd, 1948

Mueller, Ernst (Generalmajor)* December 4th, 1892
† April 16th, 1968

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Muff, Wolfgang (General der Infanterie)* March 15th, 1880
† May 17th, 1947

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Muhr, Eduard (15. Flak-Division)* August 5th, 1893
† December 27th, 1944

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Muhsfeldt, Erich* February 18th, 1913
† January 28th, 1948

Muntau, Gottfried* September 29th, 1912
† April 7th, 2012

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Munzel, Oskar* March 13th, 1899
† January 1st, 1992

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Mussehl, Fritz Leberecht* 1885
† April 1965

Muster, Siegfried* January 15th, 1908

Müller, Bruno* September 13th, 1905
† March 1st, 1960

Müller, Erich (Friedrich Krupp AG)* November 2nd, 1892
† April 15th, 1963

Müller, Eugen (General der Artillerie)* July 19th, 1891
† April 24th, 1951

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Müller, Friedrich-Wilhelm* August 29th, 1897
† May 20th, 1947

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Müller, Georg* July 2nd, 1914
† August 20th, 1943

Müller, Gerhard Dr.med. (Admiralarzt)* April 11th, 1894
† November 9th, 1981

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Müller, Gottlob* March 17th, 1895
† April 28th, 1945

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Müller, Heinrich (SS-RSHA)* April 28th, 1900
† April 29th, 1945

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Müller, Kurt Hugo (SS)* April 14th, 1909
† January 24th, 1948

Müller, Otto (Gren. Rgt. 855)* December 3rd, 1917

Müller, von, Leon (Oberst)* September 13th, 1884
† August 21st, 1975

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Müller, Walter (WH-Gren.Rgt. 272)* July 3rd, 1894
† April 1954

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Müller-Brunckhorst, Hans* January 14th, 1893
† May 9th, 1968

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Müseler, Wilhelm* 1887
† 1952

Mützelfeldt, Hans-Joachim (Waffen SS)* August 8th, 1916
† May 10th, 1945
Grave: UNK

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Mäusl, Josef* April 26th, 1909
† October 17th, 1944

Möckel, Helmut* June 21st, 1909
† February 15th, 1945

Möckel, Karl* January 9th, 1901
† January 28th, 1948

Möhlmann, Helmut* June 25th, 1913
† April 12th, 1977

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Möller, Hans (Pionier-Bataillon 258)* August 2nd, 1908
† February 11th, 1943

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Mönnichmeyer , Kurt* September 9th, 1899
† December 5th, 1969

Mößlacher, Erhard (Waffen SS)* June 16th, 1921
† February 12th, 1945
Plot: 1 Grave: UNK

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Sources