Original German WWII 1 October 1938 Commemorative Sudetenland and Czech Conquest Medal with Prague Castle Bar in Packet Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely German Pre-WWII 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, and this fine example comes complete with its original ribbon and a Prague Castle Bar (Spange Prager Burg), indicating the soldier had also participated in the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia.

The condition of the medal is very good, with virtually all of the original gold wash present, with no oxidation that we can see. The ribbon is solid with just a few stains. This example has a scarce Prague bar as well as its original packet with a maker’s stamp on the back, which reads:

Adolf Besson
Metalwarenfabrik
Schwäbisch Gmünd

 A great example ready for further research and display.

Instituted on 18 October 1938, 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.

Prague Castle Bar
For those who had participated in both the occupation of the Sudetenland and the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia on 15 March 1939, a bronze Castle Bar (Spange Prager Burg), was approved on 1 May 1939. This bar featured the Prague Castle on the obverse with two triangular prongs in the back, which held it on the ribbon of the prior awarded Sudetenland medal. The bar, like the medal, was die-struck and high in detail, with a bronze finish.