Prototype Reichsparteitag Table Medal

Product Description: Among the most intriguing relics associated with the grand but unrealized spectacles of the Third Reich are the medals prepared for Reichsparteitag rallies that ultimately never took place. Offered here is an exceptionally rare prototype table medal for the planned 1940 Reichsparteitag, produced by the renowned Munich firm Deschler & Sohn, one of the most respected manufacturers of official German awards and decorations of the period.

The annual Reichsparteitag rallies in Nürnberg were intended as massive demonstrations of power and pageantry. The rally scheduled for 1939 was cancelled following the outbreak of the Second World War, and the subsequent 1940 rally never occurred as the war expanded. Despite the cancellations, preparations had already advanced significantly, including the striking of commemorative table medals intended for official distribution.

This impressive large-format medal measures approximately 3¼ inches in diameter and is struck in tombak (a brass alloy commonly used for high-quality German medallic art). It has a substantial weight and presence, with crisp detail and strong relief typical of Deschler’s high standards of production.
The design is by noted German artist Richard Klein, whose initials “RK” can be found beneath the left wing of the eagle, confirming the attribution.

When the rallies were cancelled, the medals were never issued and were reportedly stored in the attic of the Deschler factory in Munich, where they remained forgotten for decades. Upon their rediscovery many years later, a small number were quietly dispersed among a few advanced collectors in Germany.
Because only a very limited number of these prototype medals were struck, surviving examples are extremely scarce today, particularly in this impressive large format. The heavy tombak construction, striking design, and unique historical background make this a highly desirable piece for advanced collectors of Third Reich medals and political memorabilia.

Historical Description: Military, political, civil, and paramilitary organizations during the Third Reich created a wide variety of non-portable awards, mostly in the form of award plaques and table medals, but also including decorative plates, various kinds of trophies, and usable gift items. These awards were generally presented in cases where a medal or award to be worn on the uniform would not be appropriate. Non-portable awards were given to winners of various types of sport contests, as well as to recognize distinguished service to military or civilian organizations, and even private companies. The table medals were typically originally awarded inside special custom fitted cases, like those used for some military awards. They could be made of metal, or in some cases porcelain, and were generally finely struck, and of high quality. The wall plaques were typically made of metal, often mounted to a wood base. They could feature Hitler, organizational emblems, or other military or patriotic themed decoration. There was a vast range of non-portable awards made and used during the Third Reich. Some were unique, custom works of art. There were also factories that issued catalogs filled with all kinds of different mass-produced items. After the war, most of these items that bore images of the swastika or Hitler were destroyed to comply with Allied denazification policy.

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