Eastern front medals - How many different awards exist?

[Anthony N]

How many different Eastern Front Medals are there to collect?
When i started collecting i really wanted an Ostmedaille, not just because it looks great, but because it holds a rather special place not only with the veterans but with collectors too.
Now i have more experience & want to collect all known Eastern Front medals from the German side.
So far i have the German Ostmedaille, a German made Blue Division & have a Spanish Volunteer medal in the post.
Any help appreciated, thanks, Ant.

[Jonathan M]

i can sympathise with that feeling. i assume most collectors are also very interested in the history surrounding these awards and the winter of fighting of 41-42 personifies the hardship of war in the most extreme weather

ive just bought my first ost medaille from detlev and it will have pride of place in my small but gradually expanding collection

jonathan

[Anthony N]

Hi Jonathan!
My sentiments exactly, the history behind medals is what got me interested in collecting in the first place & the "total war" of the eastern front is both harrowing & fascinating when you think about what those soldiers & civilians went through out there, especially during the winter. It's no wonder that German veterans were so proud to wear the Ostmedaille.
I have just seen an Italian badge (looked like an assault badge type rather than a medal) but there was no information about it.

[PABLO_Teale]

Hello Ant,

as well as the Ostmedaille and the Blue Division Medal there were also the Ostvolk Decorations which were awarded to Soviet volunteers who fought for the Germans. The Ostvolk Decoration was brought in to replace a selection of unofficial awards that these volunteers had introduced (because at the time they weren't eligible for the Eastern Front medal) including the Cossack Cavalry Crosses. There is quite a complicated level system (with / without swords, 1st and 2nd class in gold or silver)to the Ostvolk awards so there are plenty of types to collect, they are also unusual because they are one of the few Nazi awards not to feature a Swastika.

Here is an example of the 2nd class award in gold with swords

OSTVOLK_2ND_CL_GOLD_WITH_SWORDS.jpg

Hope this helps, and adds some more scope to your collection?

[Anthony N]

Thanks Paul, that's a great help, i have seen one of these for sale recently, just gotta remember where! Obviously didn't have a clue what it was.
I imagine the with/without swords is the usual military/non military personel award?
Very interesting that it doesn't have the swastika on it, i wonder why.
Ant.

[Adrian Stevenson]

I imagine the with/without swords is the usual military/non military personel award?
Very interesting that it doesn't have the swastika on it, i wonder why.
Ant.

Hi Ant, the award was issued with/without swords according to the type of deed it was awarded for.

The Eastern Volunteers were not deemed "worthy" of having a swastika on their awards.

Cheers, Ade.

[PABLO_Teale]

Hi Ant and Ade,

I don't know about being worthy enough of having the Swastika on their awards, but the design, by Elmar Lang of the Godet company was of an Islamic Star with the traditional Russian Sunflower (centre) surrounded by laurel leaves (as used on many other German awards). The awards with swords were for deeds carried out in battle and without for other meritorious activities, just like the KVK. They were conferred in Hitlers name, and so, I think if deemed worthy of that then the Swastika issue is more of traditional values rather than worthiness.

(Credit to Robin Lumsden for the info, from his book 'Medals and decorations of Hitler's Germany')

[afrikasandman]

ost medals

Guys, there are quite a few makers, i know i have probably only 8 or 9 of the makers and have approximatly 15 ost medals. They are marked on the rings, 1,2,4 ect.. and there are some L marked awards. Certain maker numbers are more desireable than others, for example 88 seems to be a difficult one to find. Where as 110 and i think off the top of my head 113 are quite common. I have a list of numbers that are known to exist, if anyone is interested i will pass it on. Matt

[Anthony N]

Wow, once again Wehrmacht Awards members are the best. Thanks everyone for your help so far, anyone got any information on any other awards, any information on the Italian award would be appreciated, got to get myself some reference books!

Matt, could you PM me that list of makers, that would be real helpful,
thanks, Ant.

[Bill Gaynor]

There is also the "Badge of the Croatian Air Force Legion", that was awarded to Croatian and German Airmen who served on the Russian Front.
Bill

[Anthony N]

Thanks Bill, that's a new one on me, definitely looking like it's getting expensive now.
Ant.