The German Cross (Deutches Kreuz) was Introduced in 1941. The award ranks between Iron Cross First Class and the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross. It is always worn on right breast of uniform.
The donor collected this dagger in Germany during the immediate post-war period. He served the U.S. Third Army G-2 Intelligence branch from late June 1944 until the late summer of 1945.
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.