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circa 1941. The Oak Leaves are a production of the firm “C.E. Juncker, Berlin”. The Oak Leaves “frosted” silver-plated with polished edges, reverse side on the left marked “L/12” over “800” silver. Complete with original 73.5 cm long ribbon, in matching early presentation case, front with the typical mushroom button clasp. Unworn, in mint condition. Included is the miniature of the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, one-piece construction, height 14 mm, reverse side with long pin bar, side stamped “800” silver.

Extremely rare, in over 30 years this is only the 6th Oak Leaves by the firm Juncker that we have been able to offer.

The firm C.E. Juncker has manufactured Knight's Crosses since 1939 and delivered them to the Orders Chancellery. However, Juncker did not receive a contract for the delivery of Oak Leaves and Swords; these were delivered to the Orders Chancellery by the firm Godet. The firm Juncker delivered only a few pieces for the commercial orders trade until the end of 1941, until the sale of Knight's Crosses was discontinued. This production is described and illustrated in the reference book “The Knights Cross of the Iron Cross” Volume I. by Dietrich Maerz on page 345.

The set comes from the estate of a fallen Knight's Cross recipient; the Oak Leaves were specially acquired for the decorations pillow at the funeral. Further details will be communicated to the buyer.

circa 1941. This piece is one of the rarest variants of the Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves, manufactured by C.F. Zimmermann, Pforzheim on contract for the firm Förster & Barth, also of Pforzheim. Blackened magnetic core with silver frame. The cross is stamped on the reverse below the suspension loop "800" silver and "L/21" as the maker's mark. The Oak Leaves are the so-called Type 1 by C.F. Zimmermann, stamped on the reverse lower left "900" silver, right "L/21" as the maker's mark. Complete with long original neck ribbon as issued. Unworn, in mint condition.

This piece is described and illustrated in the reference work “The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross” by Dietrich Maerz on pages 398-400.
In July 1941, the firm Förster & Barth received authorization from the Presidential Chancellery for the production of orders and decorations for commercial trade (the announcement was made in August 1941) and received from the LDO the maker's code "L/21". Förster & Barth did not manufacture their own dies for the Knight's Cross and Oak Leaves, but rather had the pieces for commercial trade manufactured by their colleague C.F. Zimmermann, as did the firm Godet in Berlin. Since trade in Knight's Crosses and higher grades was prohibited from October 1941, there was only a three-month period for the possible production of "L/21" Knight's Crosses and Oak Leaves.

Apart from this piece, we are not aware of any other example worldwide. Without doubt, the "L/21" production is the rarest variant of all Knight's Crosses and Oak Leaves.