3rd Class Social Welfare Medal

Product Description: This 3rd Class Social Welfare Medal is a nice example of a scarce award. The medal is a top quality piece, made out of a brass alloy. It’s got a great look, with perfect black enamel on the eagle and swastika emblem that contrasts beautifully with the original gold finish. There is a small chip to the surface of the white enamel on the cross, at the 12 o’clock position. Besides the chip, there are only slight traces of age and handling wear. The reverse of the cross is clean, with virtually all of the original gold finish. The original suspension ring is intact. This 3rd Class Social Welfare Medal is complete with its original, correct red and white ribbon. The ribbon is full length, with no damage, and only light age toning to the white fibers. This eye-catching award remains in excellent overall condition.

Historical Description: On May 1, 1939, Adolf Hitler introduced a new series of social welfare awards to reward contributions to the German civil population. The official introduction of this series of awards stated that they were to be awarded for achievements in the areas of social welfare, the winter relief organization, care of sick and wounded in wartime and in peace, rescue work, care of the German people and of ethnic Germans in other countries. These awards replaced an early series of Red Cross award. The lowest grade of the new series of awards was called the “Medaille der deutschen Volkspflege,” often referred to as the Social Welfare Medal. The medal was made of bronze or zinc with a silver fuinish, and bore a German national eagle and swastika on the front, superimposed on a cross. The rear bore the inscription “Medaille für deutsche Volkspflege.” The higher grades of the award were designed by Prof. Richard Klein in the form of a cross and called the “Ehrenzeichen der deutschen Volkspflege.” The cross was a white enameled cross, on which was affixed a black and white enameled German eagle and swastika. There were four grades of the cross. The highest level, the I. Stufe (first class), was a large breast star that had the cross affixed to 1 4-pointed star. The II. Stufe of the cross was worn around the neck on a broad ribbon. The III. Stufe was a pin-back cross, and the IV. Stufe was a medal suspended from a ribbon. These Social Welfare decorations were classified as National Socialist awards after the war and were not permitted to be worn after 1945.

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