Mother’s Cross in Silver (Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter in Silber) + Award Pouch – Kerbach & Oesterhelt, Dresden

A very attractive and complete original German WWII Mother’s Cross (Ehrenkreuz der Deutschen Mutter) in Silver (2nd Class), offered together with its original blue award pouch.

The decoration retains an attractive silvered finish with vibrant blue enamel to the cross arms and is complete with its full-length neck ribbon. The reverse is engraved with the award date “16. Dezember 1938”, together with the facsimile signature of Adolf Hitler, as prescribed for early examples of the award.

An especially desirable feature is the accompanying original manufacturer-marked award pouch, stamped “Kerbach & Oesterhelt, Dresden A1”, a well-known German wartime manufacturer of awards and award packaging. Original matching pouches are becoming increasingly difficult to find and significantly enhance the collectability of the set. Kerbach & Oesterhelt is well documented as a producer of German award packaging and decorations during the Third Reich period.

The Mother’s Cross was instituted on 16 December 1938 to recognize German mothers who had borne and raised large families. The Silver (2nd Class) grade was awarded to mothers with six or seven children, making it one of the most recognizable civilian decorations of the Third Reich.

Both the cross and the pouch display honest age and light handling wear consistent with careful preservation. The ribbon remains full length and the pouch is clean with clear manufacturer’s marking.

A desirable complete set consisting of the Mother’s Cross in Silver, original ribbon and scarce maker-marked Kerbach & Oesterhelt award pouch, ideal for the collector of German awards and civilian decorations.

Condition: Overall good condition with normal age-related wear. The enamel remains very well preserved, the ribbon is complete, and the original pouch is clean and clearly marked by Kerbach & Oesterhelt, Dresden A1.