Original German WWII Austrian Anschluss Commemorative Medal In Original Case – 13 March 1938 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. The Anschluss Commemorative Medal was a decoration of NSDAP Germany awarded during the interwar period, and the first in a series of Occupation Medals.

The circular, highly detailed, die-struck medal was based on the 1938 Party Day Badge and designed by Professor Richard Klein. On the obverse, a man holding the NSDAP flag stands on a podium bearing the eagle emblem of the Third Reich; he assists a second man onto the podium, whose right arm bears a broken shackle. This symbolizes Austria’s union with the larger Reich. On the reverse is the inscription “13. März 1938” (13 March 1938), the date of the Anschluss. The date is surrounded on the outer edge by the words, “Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer” (“One People, One Nation, One Leader”). The medal is suspended from a red ribbon with white-black-white stripes at the edges of the ribbon. It was made of brass or tombac bronze with a silvered matte finish.

Instituted on 1 May 1938, the medal commemorated the annexation of Austria by the German Reich, the so-called Anschluss. German troops crossed the Austrian border on 12 March 1938 without any resistance. The medal, known as the “Anschluss medal”, was awarded to those, both military and civilian, who contributed to or participated in the annexation. This included German State officials and members of the German Wehrmacht and SS who entered Austria. Local NSDAP members who had worked for union with Germany also qualified, including the widows of those who had been killed for their cause. Last awarded on 31 December 1940, a total of 318,689 medals were bestowed.

The wearing of NSDAP era awards was banned in 1945. The Anschluss medal was not among those awards reauthorized for official wear by the Federal Republic of Germany in 1957.

The medal is in lovely condition and retains almost all of the original silver matte finish, which has matured to a lovely tarnished patina. The ribbon is present and attached to a hanger pin, though it definitely does show wear and staining from use. The red leatherette covered case does have some light wear to the exterior, and the cloth covering the hinges is torn, but it is still fully functional with a working button release.

This is a wonderful opportunity to add a lovely Anschluss medal from the 2nd World War to your collections. Comes more than ready to display!