Cased 12 Year SS Medal

Product Description: The Cased 12 Year SS Medal is a very rare medal, and in its original case of issue, rarer still. The SS was founded in 1923 as a small organization, and remained small until the outbreak of WWII. The awarding of these Long Service medals ceased in 1941. Because of this, there were very few people who were eligible for this 12 Year SS award, therefore was awarded in very small numbers. This is a beautiful example, die struck from Tombak, and in great condition. All of the textbook details that one would expect to see are present: extremely fine detail, fine texture and frosting to the recesses, brightly burnished highlights, the distinctive teardrop-shaped suspension ring. It’s extremely well-preserved, having been protected by its case. The original cornflower blue ribbon has the “SS” runic emblem hand embroidered in silver bullion. The medal and ribbon are housed in the extremely rare original case, with a black exterior with silver “SS” runes, and a red interior. This case was used only for this SS 12 Year Long Service Award, the similar 25 Year medal had gold runes on the case. The case shows some minor age, the satin fabric that covered the hinge on the interior has split but the hinge itself is intact and sound as is the original closure button. This 12 Year SS is one of the only complete sets offered on the market by any seller at this time. An extremely desirable set.

Historical Description: Prior to WWII, the German military and civil authorities instituted a wide range of Long Service Awards to reward personnel for years of service. These awards were used by all branches of the German military, as well as civil and political organizations such as the police, the customs service, and the National Labor Service (RAD). There was also a general Long Service Award for civil service. Each of these awards was issued in the form of a medal that was suspended from a cornflower blue ribbon. Many of these were made in different grades denoting a specific number of years of service. They were worn on the uniform in the form of ribbon or medal bars, and up to two long service awards could be worn at the same time. In most cases, a device affixed to the ribbon bar would denote for which service the award had been issued; sometimes the medals themselves had devices on the ribbons, either in the form of pinned-on metal emblems, or else hand or machine embroidery applied drectly to the ribbon. Some German Long Service Awards were very widely awarded, others were made and issued only in small numbers.

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