In April 1939, this award was instituted to commemorate the bravery of the German volunteers in the Spanish civil war. 1,126 awards in gold with swords were granted. It is marked L56 on the reverse for the maker Robert Hauschild of Pforzheim.

This sword, dating from 1805-09, would have been carried by an Inspecteur aux (or 'des') Revues (the equivalent of Commissary in the British Army), responsible for pay, provisions (hence the ears of wheat on the guard and knuckle bow) and the depot system. Before this, they simply carried an ordinary infantry sword. The sword is rare.

This is a senior administrative officer's sword, probably either a surgeon or an apothecary, viz the twin-headed serpent on the guard. The little dolphin head at the end of the knuckle bow by the pommel indicates the naval branch of service. The mounts are ormolu and the grip is ebony.

This is a classic Ernst Pack dress bayonet, with no maker's mark, but the 'signature' screw bolts which no other maker used. The original owner must have been in a heavy artillery unit, as suggested by the obverse blade etching. These weapons were normally only worn when off duty, but in uniform.

The hilt could be Dutch or French, the use of tortoiseshell having been introduced to Europe in the late 17th century, probably through Dutch colonial connections. The mid 18th-century German blade (26" long) would have replaced an earlier, shorter, straight, double-edged blade (broken?), probably to enable the weapon's use as a naval hanger.