1939 Kriegsdenkmünze

[streptile]

I've always found this medal very interesting.

After the Liberation Wars, the Prussians minted a series of Kriegsdenkmünzen, or Commemorative War Medals, for veterans to wear. Here is one:

Abb.-27-1813-2.Mod_.-163-g.jpg

The cross was probably meant to be a Red Eagle Order.

Following the victory over France in 1871, another was minted. This time it featured the Iron Cross, which by then had become a symbol of Prussian bravery:

50847.jpg

[streptile]

After the Nazis assumed control of the government, they instituted another similar award for WWI, the so-called Hindenburg Cross. This time is was not a medal, but the central motif of the KDM remained as the design of the award:

1867478712163244.jpg

At various moments during WWII, it seemed to many that the war was over, and had been won. So various KDMs were made to commemorate the victory. I don't think these were ever awarded, but some were made.

Here is one:

z_797.jpg

[streptile]

I know there are a lot of awful copies of these awards out there, but there are also some originals.

Can anyone say definitively what an original looks like?

To me, this is the type I've always considered original.

z_798.jpg

z_803.jpg

[streptile]

Here is one of the well-known (and awful) fakes.

медаль-1.jpg

[Stan]

I agree with you that the medal posted in #3 is original (albeit bronze version) and #4 is fake.

I own one of these medals and have many photos of both originals and fakes on file. Originals all look like the one shown in #3 with the second tip of the wing feathers on the left being longer than the outer feather.

I also happen to have a copy of the manufacturing specification.

Incidentally, IMO ribbons were never fitted to these medals but original ribbons are available and collectors and dealers like to buy them as the medals display better!

Stan

[streptile]

Thanks for your reply Stan.

As far as I know, the original ribbon for this medal is not the one shown on the eMedals example above (which is a Prussian Red Cross ribbon). Is that correct?

Love to see some photos of your example.

[Gerd B]

As far as I know, the original ribbon for this medal is not the one shown on the eMedals example above (which is a Prussian Red Cross ribbon). Is that correct?

Huesken has another type for sale in blackened iron supposedly "with an original ribbon"

https://www.huesken.com/shop/de/wehr...940-56169.html

[streptile]

Thank you Gerd.

Here is the ribbon from Hüsken's:



I am told the correct ribbon is red, with a narrow black and a narrow white stripe, and bordered by a thick black stripe, like this:

IMG_5922.jpg

[Stan]

This is an original medal sold by Weitze with correct ribbon.

From memory Wiedmann produced approx 200 pieces and many were kept by a former employee and later sold to collectors.

Stan

[Stan]

This is the type of fake sold by DN and others:

Stan

[Stan]

This is my own piece by from SW. I have never bothered adding a ribbon because IMO they were never assembled with ribbons.

You will note that different styles of rim were experimented with- some having a double border, others having a single edge!

Mine still has the solder from the ring which was not cleaned off.

Stan

[streptile]

Great stuff Stan, thank you.

It's interesting that the OEK Bänderkatalog, the authority on correct ribbons for all German awards, shows the ribbon on Weitze's piece as "possible" but illustrates this as the correct ribbon:

[streptile]

Also of note is that the three medals we see here (eMedals', Weitze's, Stan's) are all slightly different, one from the other.

eMedals' version has the beading step on the Iron Cross, while the others do not.

Stan's and Weitze's eagles share rounded, almost bone-like wing-tips, while eMedals piece has pointed tips.

Also, eMedals' piece has a thin border on the swastika, absent on the other two.

KDM Comp Obv.jpg

On the reverse, as Stan mentioned, one medal has a double-border.

KDM Comp Rev.jpg

These are just the first differences I can see after a quick look.

So, in summary, no two of these medals match exactly.

For a medal that was in the process of design and approval, I'm not sure any of these things should surprise us.

But it's interesting nonetheless.

[speedytop]

Hi,

no comment on the originality of the "Hüsken" medal with "seltenen Originalband" for 2,700 € ?

Hüsken show this medal in his latest "Katalog" from 2012 under No. 09.02.10/4 for 2,500 €.

Uwe

[streptile]

Hi, no comment on the originality of the "Hüsken" medal with "seltenen Originalband" for 2,700 € ?

In my opinion it's an obvious fake. I thought that went without saying