A "de-Nazified" version of the War Merit Cross was reissued in 1957 by the Bundeswehr for its veterans.

[1] This award was created by Adolf Hitler in October 1939 as a successor to the non-combatant Iron Cross which was used in earlier wars (similar medal but with a different ribbon).

[2][4] The wearing of Nazi era decorations was banned in Germany after the war, as was any display of the swastika.

Veterans awarded the War Merit Cross were therefore unable to wear it, either in uniform or – publicly – on civilian dress.

The ribbon for the War Merit Medal was similar, but with a narrow vertical red strip in the center of the black field.

[5] Soldiers who earned the War Merit Cross 2nd Class with Swords wore a small crossed-swords device on the ribbon.

Directing his comments at Göring personally, Hitler ordered that such attempts to gain this award be stopped.