Germany, Wehrmacht. A War Merit Cross I Class With Swords, With Case, By Kerbach & Österhelt certificate_of_authenticity maker marked "AB" (Arthus Bertrand)

maker marked "AB" (Arthus Bertrand) within a starburst frame on the reverse

a solid gold (tested 18k gold) four armed star with arabesques between the arms of the cross

within an upside-down triangle border

He signed his Attestation Paper on October 23

Germany, Wehrmacht. A War Merit Cross I Class With Swords, With Case, By Kerbach & Österhelt certificate_of_authenticity maker marked "AB" (Arthus Bertrand)(Kriegsverdienstkreuz I. Klasse mit Schwertern und Etui). Constructed of silvered tombak, consisting of a Maltese Cross with crossed swords through the centrepiece, the obverse with pebbled arms and a central wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse with a raised barrel hinge and banjo style pinback meeting a flat wire catch, the pinback maker marked with Prsidialkanzlei code 62 for Kerbach & sterhelt, Dresden, measuring 48. 45 mm (w) x 48. 16 mm (h),