Description

Offered is an original German Order Order of Eastern Peoples (Ostvolk) Medal, in silver, without swords by Rudolf Wächtler & Lange Mittwaida

40mm wide die struck, zinc alloy construction award in the form of a sunburst star pattern with a central, embossed, circular laurel leaf wreath encompassing a six petal flower. The reverse has the typical, circular, depression to the centre as found on these awards. The top centre of the award has an integral, extended, vertical, arm with a looped ring to secure the gilt finished ribbon suspension ring, stamped ‘100’ for Rudolf Wächtler & Lange Mittwaida. The pin mounted ribbon suspension ring is intact and comes complete with an original piece of horizontally ribbed, green, rayon ribbon with a vertical, red stripe near each outside edge.

Medal for Gallantry and Merit for Members of the Eastern Peoples was a military and paramilitary award of Nazi Germany. Established on 14 July 1942, it was bestowed on personnel from the former Soviet Union (Ostvolk in German, literally “Eastern people”), who volunteered to fight alongside German forces. The Medal is sometimes called the Ostvolk Medal or Eastern People’s Medal. In addition to the Ostvolk medal, eastern volunteers were also eligible for German war medals and badges.