This miniature medal bar represents a significant form of military decoration practice in the Third Reich. With a width of 9 mm, it belongs to the so-called dress miniatures or evening wear versions that were worn with civilian clothing or on special occasions.

The bar combines two important decorations: the Iron Cross 2nd Class in its 1939 reinstated form, and the Wound Badge of the Legion Condor in black. This combination tells the story of a bearer who served in both the Spanish Civil War and World War II.

The Iron Cross was renewed on September 1, 1939, by Adolf Hitler, precisely on the day of the invasion of Poland. The 1939 version differed from its predecessors from the Wars of Liberation and World War I through the central swastika and the year “1939” on the lower arm. The 2nd Class was worn on a ribbon or as a ribbon bar on the buttonhole, while the miniature presented here was intended for civilian or social occasions.

The Wound Badge of the Legion Condor is historically particularly significant as it was awarded to German volunteers who fought on the Nationalist side in the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939. The Legion Condor was a German air force unit that supported General Franco and served as a testing ground for new weapons and tactics that would later be used in World War II.

The black grade of the Wound Badge was awarded for one or two wounds. The badge was instituted on May 14, 1939, by Hermann Göring in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe. It displays a swastika facing left, surrounded by an oak leaf wreath, with the sword of the Legion Condor and the inscription “LEGION CONDOR” along with the years “1936-1939”.

The maker's mark L/57 on the reverse clearly identifies the manufacturer. According to the system of manufacturer codes in the Third Reich, L/57 stood for the firm Rudolf Souval in Vienna, a renowned manufacturer of military decorations and badges. Souval was known for the high quality of his work and produced numerous orders and decorations during the war.

Miniature bars served a practical purpose: while regular orders and badges were worn with uniforms, officers and soldiers could display their decorations in reduced form at civilian events, receptions, or with formal evening wear. The long pin on the reverse allowed secure attachment to the lapel or dress chain.

The combination of these two decorations on one bar indicates a bearer who was among the relatively few who served both in Spain and in the early Second World War. Approximately 19,000 German members of the Wehrmacht served in the Legion Condor during the Spanish Civil War, many of whom later went on to fight in World War II and received additional decorations there.

Condition 2 corresponds in the militaria collector's grading scale to a very good to good state of preservation with only minor signs of use. This indicates careful storage over the decades.

Such miniature bars are today significant military-historical documents that not only demonstrate craftsmanship quality but also represent individual life stories. They document participation in historical events and the complex history of the German armed forces in the first half of the 20th century. For historians and collectors, they offer valuable insights into the decoration system, manufacturing practices, and the biographical paths of soldiers of that era.