Germany (Third Reich): West Wall Medal (Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen)

Bronzed zinc metal

The medal was created on, 2 August 1939, to be awarded to those who designed and built the fortifications on Germany's western borders, known as the West Wall, or referred by the Allies, as the Siegfried Line, between 15 June 1938 to 31 March 1939. On, 13 November 1939, eligibility was extended to include servicemen of the Wehrmacht who served on the West Wall for at least ten weeks. It is estimated that 622,064 medals were awarded through to 31 January 1941, on which date awards ceased to be made

In 1944, after the allied invasion in Normandy, France the medal was re-instituted and awarded to those who renovated and strengthened the fortifications on the western borders. This latter version of the medal was commonly known as the 'Defence Wall Honor Award', to distinguish the decoration from its 1939 counterpart, albeit the medal and riband were identical

It is estimated that just over 800,000 awards of the medal were awarded in total by the end of the Second World War

Condition: VF

Code: 25669