Original German WWI & WWII Medal and Insignia Grouping with 1914 EKII, Eastern Medal & More – 11 Items Original Items

Original Items: Only One Set Available. This is a very nice collection of German WWI & WWII Insignia & Awards, which was brought back from the European theater by a USGI after the war was concluded. It includes some lovely medals, as well as miniature medal bars, and even an interesting and rare cap eagle.

This lovely set includes:

– One Imperial German WWI Iron Cross 1914 2nd Class Medal (Eisernes Kreuz II. Klasse 1918) with Ribbon. Marked K on the hanger Ring, an unkown maker mark. The paint is still almost 100% and the silver is still present, with a lovely tarnished patina.

There is no more iconic German military award than the Iron Cross. The long history of this order began during the Napoleonic Wars. King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia instituted the “Eisernes Kreuz” (Iron Cross) in March of 1813. The award criteria changed somewhat with time, but generally speaking, Iron Crosses could be awarded for individual acts of bravery, or for leadership achievements on the battlefield.

The basic design of the WWI crosses is a central Tatzenkreuz (cross pattée) struck from iron and mounted in a silver frame which has a raised crenulated decorative border. The obverse of the cross bears the date 1914 under a crowned W monogram. The reverse bears an oak leaf cluster in the center, with the date of the decoration’s institution 1813 underneath, and the crowned FW initials of Frederick William on the top arm above the oak leaf cluster. Suspension for second-class (EK II) types is by means of a ring, and frequently this ring bears a maker’s stamp.

– One German WWII Western Wall / Siegfried Line Metal with Ribbon Pin. The West Wall Medal (Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen) was a decoration of NSDAP Germany. It was instituted on 2 August 1939 and was given to those who designed and built the fortifications on Germany’s western borders, known as the Westwall or, in English, the Siegfried Line, between 15 June 1938 to 31 March 1939. On 13 November 1939 eligibility was extended to include servicemen of the Wehrmacht who served on the Westwall for at least ten weeks. In all 622,064 medals were awarded until 31 January 1941, when awards of the medal ceased. This early version was made of solid bronze. The back has the statement FÜR ARBEIT ZUM SCHUTZE DEUTSCHLANDS – “For Work to Protect Germany.”

– One German WWII 1 October 1938 Commemorative Sudetenland Medal mounted on Ribbon Pin. Officially called the 1 October 1938 Commemorative Medal (Die Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938), commonly known as the Sudetenland Medal or Czech Conquest Medal. This was a decoration of NSDAP Germany awarded in the interwar period. Instituted on 18 October 1938, the medal was awarded to German military personnel who participated in the occupation of Sudetenland and the occupation of Czechoslovakia in March 1939. The medal was awarded to all German (and as well Sudeten) State officials and members of the German Wehrmacht and SS who marched into Sudetenland. Later it was awarded to military personnel participating in the occupation of the remnants of Czechoslovakia on 15 March 1939. It was awarded until 31 December 1940. In all 1,162,617 medals and 134,563 bars were awarded.

The medal was similar in appearance as the Anschluss Medal, the reverse only differed in the date. It was designed by Professor Richard Klein. It is round and of the obverse there is a man standing of a podium with the Third Reich coat of arms and holding the NSDAP flag, he holding the hand and helping him get on the podium of another man who had a broken shackle on his right hand, this symbolize the joining to the Reich of Austria. On the reverse side is the inscription “1. Oktober 1938” (1 October 1938). The date is surrounded with the words “Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer” (One People, One Empire, One Leader).

The medal was dye-struck and high in detail, with a bronze finish. The medal was suspended from a black ribbon with a red stripe in the middle, these being the colors of the Sudetenland.

– One German WWII Eastern Front Medal (Ostmedaille) with Ribbon: The medal shows signs of minor wear and has minor surface oxidation and build-up. The ribbon is slightly stained but overall condition is excellent! The Eastern Medal (German: Ostmedaille), officially the Winter Battle in the East 1941–42 Medal (German: Medaille Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42), was a military award of the Wehrmacht which was created by ordinance of Adolf H on 26 May 1942.

The Eastern Medal was awarded to any member of the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS “in recognition of experience in the struggle against the Bolshevik enemy and the Russian winter within the period from 15 November 1941 to 15 April 1942.” It was also awarded posthumously to any service member who died in the line of duty within the Soviet Union. It was wryly called the Frozen Meat Medal or the “Order of the Frozen Flesh” (German: Gefrierfleischorden).

– One German WWII DRK Red Cross Medal for Social Welfare with Ribbon Pin. The Social Welfare Decoration (German: Ehrenzeichen für deutsche Volkspflege) was a German Civil Award created by Adolf AH on 1 May 1939 for services in the social sector. The decoration was issued in three classes and was awarded for a wide variety of service, in the social sector, to the German state. Qualifying service would have been with Winterhilfswerk, National Socialist People’s Welfare, medical and rescue work, or care of foreign and ethnic Germans. As a replacement for the German Red Cross Decoration, it was conferred in four classes consisting of a white-enameled gold Balkenkreuz with Reich eagle and swas. A “Medal for Social Welfare” was also issued for lesser degrees of service, not warranting the higher presentation of a class award.

– FOUR German WWI & WWII Medal Ribbon Pins, representing the 1914 Iron cross 2nd Class, 1914 Iron Cross 1st Class, Eastern Front Medal, and the 1938 Sudetenland Medal.

– One Rare German WWII Soldatenbund Soldier’s League Cap Eagle. Showing a Reichsadler surmounted crossed swords and an Iron cross, this organization only existed from 1936 until being absorbed into the NSRKB in 1938.

– One German WWII NSRKB National Socialist State Veteran’s Association Flag Tinnie Pin

A wonderful totally genuine grouping perfect for the WWI & WWII Insignia German collector.