Medal for Gallantry and Merit for Members of the Eastern Peoples
October 18, 2023
Medal for Gallantry and Merit for Members of the Eastern Peoples (German: Tapferkeits und Verdienstauszeichnung für Ostvölker) was a military and paramilitary award of Nazi Germany. Established on 14 July 1942, it was bestowed on personnel from the former Soviet Union (Ostvolk in German, literally "Eastern people"), who volunteered to fight alongside German forces.[1] The Medal is sometimes called the Ostvolk Medal or Eastern People's Medal, (German: Ostvolkmedaille).
Medal for Gallantry and Merit for Members of the Eastern Peoples Medal
The Ostvolk medal features an octagonal (eight pointed) star with a plant pattern in the centre. There were two classes:[3]
1st class - 50 mm in diameter, attached to the left uniform pocket by a pin and clasp. It could be awarded in gold or silver.
2nd class - 40 mm in diameter worn on a 32 mm wide ribbon from the left chest. It could be awarded in gold, silver or bronze, each having a separate ribbon design:
gold: green with a red stripe towards each edge;
silver: green with a white stripe towards each edge;
bronze: plain green.
Each version of both classes could be awarded either with swords for bravery or without swords for merit.[3]
The 1st class was only awarded to those who had already received the 2nd class although, exceptionally, the two classes could be awarded together. Women, for example nurses, were also eligible for the medal.[2]
From November 1942, German officers and NCOs serving with Ostvolk units were eligible for the 1st class and 2nd class in silver with swords, provided they held the corresponding class of the Iron Cross.[2] In February 1944, German personnel became eligible for the 1st class and 2nd class without swords where they held the corresponding class of the War Merit Cross with swords.[1]
Wear of Nazi era awards was banned in 1945. In 1957 the Eastern People's Medal was among the World War II decorations re-authorised for wear by the Federal Republic of Germany. While many awards were re-designed to remove the swastika, the original Eastern People's Medal could be worn unaltered as it did not bear this symbol.[4]
ClassesEdit
Medal for Gallantry and Merit for Members of the Eastern Peoples
^ abcLittlejohn, and Dodkins. Orders, Decorations, Medals and Badges of the Third Reich. pp. 200-201. Published by R. James Bender Publishing, California. 1968. ISBN978-0854200801.
^ abCaptain H. Taprell Dorling. Ribbons and Medals. p. 215. Published by A.H.Baldwin & Sons, London. 1956.
^Littlejohn, and Dodkins. Orders, Decorations, Medals and Badges of the Third Reich. p. 225. Published by R. James Bender Publishing, California. 1968.
medal, gallantry, merit, members, eastern, peoples, german, tapferkeits, verdienstauszeichnung, für, ostvölker, military, paramilitary, award, nazi, germany, established, july, 1942, bestowed, personnel, from, former, soviet, union, ostvolk, german, literally,. Medal for Gallantry and Merit for Members of the Eastern Peoples German Tapferkeits und Verdienstauszeichnung fur Ostvolker was a military and paramilitary award of Nazi Germany Established on 14 July 1942 it was bestowed on personnel from the former Soviet Union Ostvolk in German literally Eastern people who volunteered to fight alongside German forces 1 The Medal is sometimes called the Ostvolk Medal or Eastern People s Medal German Ostvolkmedaille Medal for Gallantry and Merit for Members of the Eastern Peoples MedalOstvolk Medal 2nd class in silver with swordsTypeMilitary and paramilitary awardAwarded forBravery with swords orMerit without swords Presented byReich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories and the WehrmachtEligibilityFormer Soviet citizens under German commandGermans serving in units manned by former Soviet personnelStatusObsoleteEstablished14 July 1942Bronislav Kaminski wearing the 1st class of the award on his tunic below and to the left of the Iron CrossIn addition to the Ostvolk medal eastern volunteers were also eligible for German war medals and badges 2 The Ostvolk medal features an octagonal eight pointed star with a plant pattern in the centre There were two classes 3 1st class 50 mm in diameter attached to the left uniform pocket by a pin and clasp It could be awarded in gold or silver 2nd class 40 mm in diameter worn on a 32 mm wide ribbon from the left chest It could be awarded in gold silver or bronze each having a separate ribbon design gold green with a red stripe towards each edge silver green with a white stripe towards each edge bronze plain green Each version of both classes could be awarded either with swords for bravery or without swords for merit 3 The 1st class was only awarded to those who had already received the 2nd class although exceptionally the two classes could be awarded together Women for example nurses were also eligible for the medal 2 From November 1942 German officers and NCOs serving with Ostvolk units were eligible for the 1st class and 2nd class in silver with swords provided they held the corresponding class of the Iron Cross 2 In February 1944 German personnel became eligible for the 1st class and 2nd class without swords where they held the corresponding class of the War Merit Cross with swords 1 Wear of Nazi era awards was banned in 1945 In 1957 the Eastern People s Medal was among the World War II decorations re authorised for wear by the Federal Republic of Germany While many awards were re designed to remove the swastika the original Eastern People s Medal could be worn unaltered as it did not bear this symbol 4 Classes EditMedal for Gallantry and Merit for Members of the Eastern PeoplesI class II class in gold in silver in gold in silver in bronze nbsp With swords nbsp Without swords nbsp With swordsRibbon bar with swords nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp without nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Notes Edit a b Ostvolkmedaille TracesOfWar com Retrieved 7 February 2014 a b c Littlejohn and Dodkins Orders Decorations Medals and Badges of the Third Reich pp 200 201 Published by R James Bender Publishing California 1968 ISBN 978 0854200801 a b Captain H Taprell Dorling Ribbons and Medals p 215 Published by A H Baldwin amp Sons London 1956 Littlejohn and Dodkins Orders Decorations Medals and Badges of the Third Reich p 225 Published by R James Bender Publishing California 1968 Portals nbsp Military of Germany nbsp World War II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Medal for Gallantry and Merit for Members of the Eastern Peoples amp oldid 1021064186, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
