Germany, Imperial. A 1914 Iron Cross I Class, Privately-Purchased Example Province of China set within gilt laurel branches

set within gilt laurel branches carrying ten small round-cut synthetic “diamonds”

in bronze gilt with red and orange enamels

The Yangtze is China's longest river

but also to the prisoners and their relatives

Specialist 2nd Class Badge

Germany, Imperial. A 1914 Iron Cross I Class, Privately-Purchased Example Province of China set within gilt laurel branches(Eisernes Kreuz 1914 I. Klasse). Reinstituted 5 August 1914 by Kaiser Wilhelm II. (1914 1918 issue). Constructed of iron and silver, consisting of a vaulted Cross Patte with a blackened magnetic iron core within a ribbed silver frame, the obverse with a central initial W, the six oclock arm with a reinstitution date of 1914, the twelve oclock arm with a royal crown, the reverse with a barrel hinge affixed to an elongated mount and tapering vertical