Germany, Wehrmacht. An Eastern Peoples Merit Decoration, I Class in Gold, by Wächtler & Lange consisting of a blue enamelled Romanian Cross with clusters of nine gilt rays in eac bearing a double-stamped inscription of

bearing a double-stamped inscription of “ERNST WITTMANN

dated June 1942 on the first page

Stuttgart (RZM M9/71)” on the reverse

Die struck in solid silver

if not more due to drowning in the rising river

Germany, Wehrmacht. An Eastern Peoples Merit Decoration, I Class in Gold, by Wächtler & Lange consisting of a blue enamelled Romanian Cross with clusters of nine gilt rays in eac bearing a double-stamped inscription of(Verdienstauszeichnung fr Ostvlker I. Klasse in Gold). Instituted 14 July 1942. (1942 1945 issue). Constructed of gilded zink, the obverse consisting of an eight pointed radiant starburst, bearing a central raised rosette situated within a circular laurel leaf wreath, the reverse with a barrel hinge and tapering vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch emanating from an oblong plate, unmarked but demonstrating the characteristics of manufacture by