Western Front West Wall Medal

Product Description: A Western Front West Wall Medal presented in fine, well-preserved condition, complete with its original, unused 5.5-inch length of ribbon. Struck in zinc, the medal retains much of its original dulled bronze finish, with light burnishing and honest wear revealing the underlying metal on the raised details. The surfaces display an appealing patina consistent with age and careful storage. Overall, this Western Front West Wall Medal remains an excellent example of this historically significant early-war decoration, combining strong detail with an untouched, authentic presentation.

Historical Description:  The Western Front Medal, officially known as the West Wall Medal (Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen), was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 2 August 1939 to honor those who helped construct or serve along Germany’s western fortifications, the Westwall or Siegfried Line. The medal’s design, by Richard Klein, depicted an eagle clutching a swastika above a crossed sword and spade—symbols of the cooperation between soldiers and workers in preparing the nation’s defenses. Over 620,000 medals were awarded during the early war years to engineers, soldiers, and laborers involved in the project.

Reissued in 1944 as the Allies advanced into Germany, the decoration also recognized those who reinforced or defended the collapsing fortifications. Though modest in appearance, the Western Front Medal became a symbol of Germany’s determination and the regime’s ideal of unity between labor and the military in the defense of the Reich.

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