Ostfolk awards

[Tom Yanacek]

suspension ring marking:

[Tom Yanacek]

Perhaps a sampling of weights and measurements would help to establish a baseline of acceptable awards.

This is a really great discussion guys! I may have to modify my opinion about the non-rope type, which now looks to be an acceptable variant or the first production type. I was so enthused that I went and dug out my examples of the Ostvolk medals. I didn't find any non-rope types, which doesn't surprise me, cause I guess I only collected what I was comfortable with at the time.
Of these seven examples, four are marked with the Lieferant number '100'. (The gold with swords, two of the gold w/o swords, and the silver w/o swords.)
Although unmarked, I examined the die strike characteristics of the remaining gold w/o swords and the silver with swords examples. I can say with absolute certainty, that they were struck off the Rudolf Wächtler & Lange dies. The bronze with swords example, however, was made from an entirely different die, so I would assume that a different maker was involved here.
Here is the measurement and weight data on the seven examples:

1. gold with swords (marked 100) 39.62mm wide x 45.46mm high
diameter of center medallion is 18.92mm weight is 14.7 grams

2. gold w/o swords (marked 100) 39.88mm wide x 44.96mm high
diameter of center medallion is 18.92mm weight is 14.3 grams

3. gold w/o swords (unmarked) 39.95mm wide x 45.03mm high
diameter of center medallion is 18.92mm weight is 14.1 grams

4. gold w/o swords (marked 100) 39.75mm wide x 44.83mm high
diameter of center medallion is 18.92mm weight is 13.8 grams

5. silver with swords (unmarked) 39.70mm wide x 45.46mm high
diameter of center medallion is 18.92mm weight is 15.5 grams

6. silver w/o swords (marked 100) 40.03mm wide x 45.01mm high
diameter of center medallion is 18.92mm weight is 13.9 grams

7. bronze with swords (unmarked) 40.25mm wide x 45.57mm high
diameter of center medallion is 18.82 weight is 15.1 grams

Best regards,
Tom

[Tom Yanacek]

reverse:

[NickG]

Here are mine!

Here are mine! Until I read this thread I never paid attention to the rope detail...now that I know I checked and sure enough one is made with no rope!! So early variant!
Sorry about the quality...they shifted a little when I scanned these.. but the ropeless detail is clearly visible still...

[NickG]

the backs

The backs of these. (exact same order)
The ropeless one is top right corner, slightly concave. The others with a hollow back or solid backed (one example)...
Both 1st class ones unfortunately damaged...with catch and pin problems... but I still like 'em!
Nick

[Tom Yanacek]

Hello Nick,
Would you be able to post some measurements and the weight of your bronze, non-rope example? Also, I am interested in that completely flat-backed silver with swords example. It seems to have a non-standard suspension eyelet as well as a non-standard brooch pin. Could you post better pictures of that example and maybe some measurements too? Is the suspension eyelet on that example a separate attachment or integral part?
Best regards,
Tom

[Darrell]

I'd be cautious to spread "interpretation" or "assumptions" around as truth. Example .... they are "Early" variations. Unless the literature says as much, I'd call it a variation for now and keep it at that until proof postive arises

[Tom Yanacek]

Hello Nick,
Just to clarify, I have indicated the points I am referring to with yellow arrows.
Best regards,
Tom

[Darrell]

Hello Nick,
Just to clarify, I have indicated the points I am referring to with yellow arrows.
Best regards,
Tom

I was under the impression that the Ostvolk 2nd Class with these "short" ring extensions (for a better word) were Post War ('57") pieces?

[Tom Yanacek]

I was under the impression that the Ostvolk 2nd Class with these "short" ring extensions (for a better word) were Post War ('57") pieces?

Hello Darrell,
So was I. But lets see where this small detail takes us. It will be interesting to hear other opinions.
Best regards,
Tom

[leibregiment]

Have we any evidence that Ostvolk medals were worn post war? and
manufactured and by who ?

[Darrell]

Hello Darrell,
So was I. But lets see where this small detail takes us. It will be interesting to hear other opinions.
Best regards,
Tom

I agree.

One thing appears to be the norm for "War Period" pieces according to all the eveidence so far ..... they all exhibit the "long" ring extensions. But both roped and non roped appear to exist in War Time manufacture variations.

[Darrell]

Have we any evidence that Ostvolk medals were worn post war? and
manufactured and by who ?

Another good point. Why the "change" when there was no swastika or banned symbols on the War Time versions. Then again, they did have a striking difference in roped and non roped versions. This difference is quite a bit more obvious than the length of the extension tip.

[James Clark]

Another good point. Why the "change" when there was no swastika or banned symbols on the War Time versions. Then again, they did have a striking difference in roped and non roped versions. This difference is quite a bit more obvious than the length of the extension tip.

There is a post pinned to the top of the 1957 awards forum that lists the awards allowed to be worn in the de-nazified form and those that were banned. The Ostvolk awards aren't included amongst the awards that are permitted. But then they aren't included amongst the banned awards either. In any case, the 1957 law would only apply to the silver awards (1st and 2nd class) since these were the only awards made to Germans.

The 1957 law says that those awards that are permitted have to be worn without the Swastika and that "the examples defined by the Federal Government and held by the Federal Ministry of the Interior are the authoritative design" of these awards. It then notes that "samples and manufacturing regulations can be obtained from the Ministry of the Interior". It would be very interesting to find out whether the German Ministry of the Interior still holds these samples (or pictures of them) and if they or the manufacturing regulations refer to the Ostvolk awards.

[Rene Chavez]

Just curious why would the German post- Government in 1957 re-issued Eastern Volunteer awards. The only persons who would have qualified to wear them were a small cadre of German personnel assigned exclusively to these eastern volunteer units. Most Eastern volunteers who managed to survive the war did not want to be associated to the Third Reich let alone wear these medals. I can see post-war German awards issued to German veterans but Eastern People’s award is something else in my opinion but I guess anything is possible.

Rene Chavez
Http://axis101.bizland.com
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