A First War German “Iron Cross 1914” Matchbox Cover Auction An Austrian Silver Cross of

An Austrian Silver Cross of Merit with Crown by W

reliable NCO with a good sense of loyalty to his superiors

the increased secularization of the country

Marked with the Army eagle on the cover

inscribed "POLAND" above and "FIRST TO FIGHT" below

A First War German “Iron Cross 1914” Matchbox Cover Auction An Austrian Silver Cross ofA First War (Imperial) German Iron Cross 1914 matchbox cover; constructed of pressed sheet metal (magnetic); spot welded on two points; featuring a pebbled design on all four sides; two of the sides partially cut out to allow the fingers to slide the matchbox out of the cover once empty and to strike the match on the igniter strip; with a cut out on the bottom to push out the matchbox drawer; with an Iron Cross 1914 stamped into the obverse in high