West Coast Collector Show

[Gary Symonds]

Reverse of Goetz "Freedom of the Sea" table medal.

[Gary Symonds]

Obverse of Goetz Badge with date of "3, February 1917."

[Gary Symonds]

Reverse of von Kluck medal.

[Gary Symonds]

I picked these table medals up at the West Coast Collector Show in Pomona, California.

What is interesting is the von Kluck medal. He was the general of the 1st German Army that per the Schlieffen Plan was to go around the right of Paris, so that the "last man on the right, should brush his sleeve on the Channel." It did not work that way because of the Battle of the Marne. Why this medal was struck for a German defeat is puzzling.

The Karl Goetz medal is when the German's announced on 2/3/17 unrestricted sub warfare, which plus the Zimmerman telegram brought the US into WW 1.

The front shows what appears to be a US soldier with an overseas cap, drowning, with the word "Amerika" at the bottom.

The reverse show "Freedom of the Sea" in German. It shows Uncle Sam navagating a sailboat with cannons. This freedom of the sea, was what Wilson demanded. Obviously, the German Govt had different ideas.

Opinions, please.

[gregM]

Very interesting.
Thanks for showing these