Description IRON CROSS 1939 EK1 The Iron Cross 1939 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz EK1 ) is a former military Prussian decoration, awarded for bravery, and later restored by Adolf Hitler in 1939. The Iron Cross of World War II was graded into three main categories the Iron Cross 2nd Class (EKII), Iron Cross 1st Class (EK1) and the Knights Cross which replaced the Prussian Pour le Mérite or “Blue Max” as Hitler did not approve of much of the old Prussian order award only to officers. The Prussian Iron Cross 1914 with black and white ribbon, was replaced with the red, white and black colours adopted by The National Socialist German Workers’ Party. with a Swastika added in the centre with 1939 beneath.
