Original German WWII 1 October 1938 Commemorative Sudetenland Medal with Named Award Document Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice German Pre-WWII 1 October 1938 Commemorative Medal (German: 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 is in very good condition.

As a rare treat, this award comes complete with its original named and dated besitzzeugnis “possession/award” certificate! The award document indicates that it was awarded to Gefreiter Walter Jost of 4. Kompanie Infanterie-Regiment 26 on 10. April 1940. It has all the correct stamps and signatures that the award document should have. We have not been able to locate specific service information on Jost or the 26th Infantry Regiment, however we can see that three people in the regiment were awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross. There is some great research potential here!

The medal is in good condition, with minimal oxidation, and the ribbon is in very good shape as well. It has had a black safety pin put through the ribbon for display purposes.

A wonderful medal set, ready to display!

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.

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.[6] 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