Medal in memory of March 13, 1938

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Front of the 2nd form
Back of the 2nd form
Corresponding single strap

The medal commemorating March 13, 1938 , also known colloquially as the Ostmark Medal , was donated by Adolf Hitler by ordinance on May 1, 1938 . The opening words of this regulation were as follows:

“As a visible expression of my appreciation and my thanks for services to the reunification of Austria with the German Reich, I am donating the medal in memory of March 13, 1938 . The statutes determine the details. "

- Berlin, May 1, 1938 The Führer and Reich Chancellor Adolf Hitler The Reich Minister of the Interior Frick

Articles of Association

Award purpose

The medal was awarded to people who had made special contributions to the " connection " of Austria to the German Reich . This also included Austrians who either participated directly in the event or were members of the NSDAP , which was forbidden in the Austrian corporate state dictatorship .

Eligibility for proposals and delivery process

The proposals that should lead to the award of the medal were drawn up by the Reich Minister of the Interior and, for members of the Wehrmacht, by the Chief of the High Command of the Wehrmacht and presented to Hitler by the head of the Presidential Chancellery . The entrusted received a certificate of ownership with the handover of the medal . The medal itself became his property . In the event of his death, there was no obligation for the bereaved to return it.

Appearance, texture and way of wearing

What was unusual about the creation of this “commemorative medal” was that the medal was originally created in a different design and only later, through a supplementary statute, the appearance of the known “standard shape” was adapted. The background to this was a public competition to design the medal. However, before the winner, the artist Richard Klein , could be determined, the first medals with the original version had been minted. Therefore, both forms are discussed below.

1. Form

The medal of the 1st form was bronzed and showed the head relief of Hitler on its front, which looked to the left from the viewer. The head was framed by the inscription EIN VOLK ° EIN REICH ° EIN FÜHRER . The reverse of the medal showed in the center the embossed emblem of the Reich with the date: March 13, 1938 . The original shape should be worn on a dark red and black striped band on the left side of the chest. It is unlikely that the first form was awarded.

2. shape

The medal of the 2nd form with a diameter of 33 mm, on the other hand, is tinted matt silver. It shows two male figures on its front, symbolizing Austria's return to the German Empire. The rear person on the pedestal represents the Greater German Reich, which the second person (Austria), with his arm around his shoulder, pulls up onto the pedestal. The reverse shows the raised three-line lettering in the middle: March 13th / 1938 . This lettering is surrounded by the inscription: EIN VOLK ° EIN REICH ° EIN FÜHRER . The medal was worn on a 31 mm wide red, white-black-white (1 mm each) bordered band on the left side of the chest. It remains unclear whether the coloring was based on the Austrian national colors or was influenced by the black, white and red coloring of the German Empire at the time .

Award numbers

In total, the medal was awarded 318,689 times.

Others

The "Medal in memory of March 13, 1938" belongs to the National Socialist medals whose use in Germany is not permitted in any form under the 1957 law on titles, medals and decorations .

See also

literature

  • Hans-Ulrich Krantz (greeting), Johannes Ottinger (editing): Orders and decorations in the Federal Republic of Germany . 2nd ext. u. revised Aufl., Mittler Verl., Herford 1977, ISBN 3-87547-172-5 .

Web links

Commons : Connection Medal  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Reichsgesetzblatt No. 68 of May 1, 1938, page 431, wording of the ordinance.
  2. ↑ Reichsgesetzblatt No. 68 of May 1, 1938, page 431, statutes of the medal commemorating March 13, 1938, Article 1.
  3. ↑ Reichsgesetzblatt No. 68 of May 1, 1938, page 431, statutes of the medal commemorating March 13, 1938, Article 3.
  4. ↑ Reichsgesetzblatt No. 68 of May 1, 1938, page 431, statutes of the medal commemorating March 13, 1938, Articles 4 and 5.
  5. ↑ Reichsgesetzblatt No. 68 of May 1, 1938, page 431, statutes of the medal commemorating March 13, 1938, Article 2.
  6. ↑ Reichsgesetzblatt of August 27, 1938, page 1062, Ordinance on the amendment of the statutes of the medal in memory of March 13, 1938, Article 2.
  7. ↑ Johannes Ottinger: Orders and Medals of Honor in the Federal Republic of Germany , Mittler Verl., 1977, p. 148.