Bar to the Iron Cross 1st Class, 1939. (Spange 1939 zum EKI Klasse 1914). On September 1st 1939 Hitler once more reinstituted the Iron Cross series of awards in the First and Second Classes and established the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross and two new Spangen, (Bars), for the first and second class awards to be bestowed to recipients of the 1939 Iron Cross who had also been awarded a first or second 1914 Iron Cross during WWI. Originally the first pattern of this award had slightly scalloped tips to the ends of the date bar which was soon replaced with the second pattern award with diagonally angled ends. With the proper documentation, recipients of most Third Reich awards, including the Bar to the Iron Cross were permitted to privately purchase a jewelers copy of the award, at their own expense, if so desired. Nicely detailed, die struck alloy construction, second pattern, nickel/silver plated award is in the form of a national eagle with outstretched wings, clutching an oak-leaf wreath in its talons, which encompasses a canted swastika, positioned above a horizontal, trapezoidal, date bar with diagonally angled ends and the embossed institution date, "1939". The award shows nice detailing including feathering to the eagles wings and a subtly textured background field to the swastika and the date bar. The plain reverse of the award has a solid soldered hinge, a round vertical pin, and a soldered catch all intact. The award has no visible manufacturers markings.