WW1 FRANCE BATTLE OF THE MARNE MEDAL 1914 PARIS MINT

Original Battle of the Marne commemorative medal.

Die struck brass medal, measuring 67mm, the obverse presents conjoined uniformed busts of three French leaders in this epic battle and is inscribed BATAILLE DE LA MARNE, SEPTEMBRE 1914. At the left is Gen. Joseph Jacques Joffre, who held the French line against massive German assaults. Next is Gen. Joseph Gallieni, brilliant in French colonial wars and military governor of Paris. Galliéni was credited with the “Taxis of the Marne,” commandeered to rush troops to the battlefield and prevent threatened collapse. Third is Gen. Michael Maunory, who held the line of the Ourcq against Kluck’s assault.

The reverse presents sword-wielding Warrior France in flight over teeming, ant-like masses of French infantry in the baggy scarlet trousers, horizon blue tunics and kepis that were the uniform of 1914. No helmets are worn, and only a single officer on horseback and a single piece of artillery are in sight. Appalling casualties brought rapid uniform reform and introduction of the steel “Adrian” helmet used for the rest of the war.

Struck by the Paris Mint, the medal captures the realities of the opening weeks of war before static trench warfare took over the Western Front.