Posted 9 years ago
Chrisnp
(310 items)
The Austrian Kreigserinnerungsmedaille (War Commemorative Medal) was created in 1932 for award to all who served in the First World War, including soldiers, civil servants and relief workers. In 1933 gilt crossed swords were added to the ribbons of medals awarded to those who served in combat, the wounded and former POWs.
Those who were eligible for the medal and wished to have one had to purchase it for 10 Schillings (15 schillings for non-citizens). Of the money collected, 99.3% went to war victims and veterans relief, while the other .7% went to royalty payments to the designer, Edwin Grienauer, a prominent Austrian sculptor and WWI veteran.
The front of the medal depicts an eagle perched on a shield bearing the coat of arms of the Austrian Republic. Below it are the words "FÜR ÖSTERREICH" (For Austria). On the back are the years “1914-1918” surrounded by an oak leaves. It hangs from a silk ribbon in the national colors of Austria.
The official issue medal on the left has the traditional Austrian style trifold ribbon. The ribbon ring goes through a barrel type suspension at the top of the medal. The reverse bears the name the designer, “GRIENAUER”, in small print just inside the oak leaves near the bottom on the back side. These official medals are made of a brass/copper alloy called tombak. A total of 161,675 of them were issued between April 1933 and March 1938, when the Nazis marched into Austria and production suddenly stopped.
The medal on the right is a privately manufactured version that may have been proudly worn by the veteran on special occasions for years. The ribbon displays the crossed swords of a combatant. Interestingly, the ribbon uses a pentagonal fold instead of the usual tri-fold. It’s also padded and backed by red felt. The ribbon colors have faded over years of wear or display. The medal itself is gilded and has a wire loop instead of the barrel suspension. The Grienauer name is missing from the back, and I doubt he got his percentage from this one.
Interesting & good write-up. I'm curious as to why production stopped when the Germans took over, as they were allies in WWI ?
Well, although Imperial Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire were allied, I believe 20 years later that Nazi Germany and the Austrian Republic were on very poor terms. The front of this medal is symbolic of the Austrian Republic, so I am guessing it had to go.
Chris
So you think the nice Nazi gentlemen didn't want production to continue ? LOL !
By the 1938 German occupation of Austria any Austrian who wanted one of the WWI medals would have already bought it. Plus when the Germans took over Austria the Austrian WWI vets could then apply for the War Honor Cross (Hindenburg Cross)
That answer sounds more likely .
Good points Militarist. I have frequently found the Hindenburg Cross in Austrian medal groups, sometimes along side the Austrian War Commemorative.
Chris
Also, the War victims and veterans relief agencies run by the Austrian Government ministries that received the profits from the medals may have been dissolved.
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