CASED NAZI GERMANY 40 YEAR SERVICE CROSS MEDAL BY DESCHLER & SOHN

Very good quality die struck alloy, 40 year award with a fire gilt finish and black enamel work. The decoration is in the form of a cross pattée with an embossed circular oak-leaf wreath extending between the arms of the cross. The centre of the cross has a square plate with a black enamelled static swastika to the obverse and embossed Gothic script to the reverse, "Für treue Dienste", (For Loyal Service). The arms of the cross have a slightly textured background field with smooth, dual stepped, raised outer edges. The fire gilt finish and the black enamel are both fully intact and the decoration is still very bright and clean. The decoration comes complete with an original cornflower blue ribbon, having had the original brass pin suspension removed. Medal is housed in the original award case, being maker marked for Deschler & Son, Munich. Case shows some wear, but generally serviceable overall.

On January 30th 1938, Hitler instituted the Faithful Service Decoration, in three classes, in recognition of long serving civil servants, and public works personnel. The decorations were intended to be an incentive for the civilian population to foster workplace loyalty and create a stable civil service. The three classes of the decoration consisted of the Special class for fifty years of continuous service with the same employer in the free economic system.