War Commemorative Medal 1939-1940

[Greg S]

I have run across this medal in three places:

Forman's lists it for non-combattants for $2,000 struck in iron.

Angolia says it is not an official award and never became one.

There is a site that has one for $750 and the ribbon doesn't match what Angolia says would have been, at least on the trial awards.

Does anyone have any information on the award?

[Prosper Keating]

There were two types. They are the same except for the dates. One carries the dates 1939 - 1940, the other 1939 - 1941. Batches were apparently struck but they were never awarded because they were intended to commemorate the successful conclusion of the war in defence of Germany, which is how the Nazis 'sold' the war to the German public at the time. The war didn't end and even Goebbels couldn't sell the German public on the fallacy that a war involving the invasion of the Balkans, Greece, Crete (with its terrible losses), and North Africa was a war of defence of the Fatherland. So the medals were never issued but some seem to have survived. Doubtless some of the ones we see are postwar copies. It wasn't the first time the Germans made medals in anticipation of victory. Prototypes of a medal for the capture of Paris and defeat of France in 1914 were made and the DDR had stockpiles of medals ready for the successful defeat of Western Europe. The 1939/1940 War Medal is rare and worth having if you are obsessively collecting every German medal made but it can't really be described as 'official' because, although ordered and struck, it was withdrawn. It's a lot of money to tie up in something you might have difficulty selling because many people are wary of these medals. Far better to spend $2000 on a really nice, cased DKiG or something like that.

Prosper Keating

[mott5ranch]

PHOTOS?

Anybody have a picture to post of this un-official, withdrawn medal? I now am curious.

[Greg S]

Hey Gary, I am going to take Prospers advice on this one just has to much against it being real. I would rather invest in a DK. The DK would go much better with my crosses.

The site it is at is: http://www.militaria-baldes.com/obil...us-N-3827.html

If that link doesn't work then try www.militaria-baldes.com go to catalogue third reich, military awards scroll to number 444.

[Greg S]

my mistake that was 745 euros not $750.:o

[Prosper Keating]

This is the medal Gary was talking about, on sale for € 750.00.



The Forman guide suggests a value of $2000 US for the non-combattants' version in iron. Back in 1988, it was $250. He refers to a bronze version for combattants which is presumably unobtainable as it's marked with a star. So are both versions of the 1939/1941 type.

The cynic in me can't help feeling that it can only be a matter of time before collectors in isolated places around the world start telling friends that they just acquired the ultra-rare bronze 1940 German Victory Medal. And that they got a bargain because the old veteran or widow selling it to them accepted $1500 when a medal like it is shown in FORMAN's for $2000.

Bronze is easier to work than iron…

Prosper Keating

[Greg S]

Thanks for posting the picture I haven't learned to post pistures yet. From what you have said and what seems to be the the rareity of the medal I would suggest staying away from this one, just like the Luft panzer badge. Better to stay away than risk being burned on a medal that would be hard to prove real not only to myself but any other informed collector.