The Iron Cross shoulder patch. Very good quality embroidery, suitable for sewing on or ironing. 

The Iron Cross is a famous German military decoration that dates back to the 19th century. In the 1930s, the Nazi regime in Germany superimposed a swastika on the traditional medal, transforming it into a Nazi symbol. 

The Iron Cross was a military decoration in the Kingdom of Prussia and later in the German Empire (1871-1918) and Nazi Germany (1933-1945). The cross symbol was black with a white or silver outline, and its final form was derived from the Teutonic cross, the religious symbol of the Teutonic Order, used by knights since the 13th century. 

In the United States, the Iron Cross became one of several Nazi-era symbols that were adopted by outlaw bikers, more as a sign of rebellion than because of any ideology. In the early 21st century, this other use of the Iron Cross spread from motorcyclists to skateboarders and many extreme sports enthusiasts. Consequently, the use of the Iron Cross in a non-racist context has spread considerably in the United States, to the point where the Iron Cross in isolation (i.e., without a superimposed swastika or other accompanying symbols) cannot be considered a symbol of hate. 

Care must therefore be taken to correctly interpret this symbol in any context in which it may be found.