BACKGROUND: The West Wall Medal was instituted by Adolf Hitler on August 2ND 1939 to recognize military personnel, including civilian employees, who assisted in the planning, construction or defence of German fortifications on the western border. Personnel who had been awarded the October 1ST, and/or the Memel Commemorative Medals were ineligible for award of the West Wall Medal. The original bestowal of the West Wall Medals ceased as of January 1ST 1941. On October 10TH 1944, bestowal of the West Wall Medal was re-instituted as over 200,000 personnel were assigned to strengthen the German fortifications in anticipation of the western allies break-through into Germany. The West Wall Medal was only issued in one class and was to be worn on the left breast suspended from a ribbon. When awarded the West Wall medal was usually presented in an envelope.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Die struck, alloy construction medal with a bronze wash is in the form of a roughly, 4 cm tall, 3 cm wide, vertical oval with embossed, oak-leaf wreath edging encompassing a smooth field with an embossed national eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted swastika in its talons, positioned above a crossed spade and sword which are in turn positioned above a pillbox to the obverse. The reverse also has the embossed, oak-leaf wreath edging which encompasses embossed, Latin script, "Für Arbeit zum Schutze Deutschlands", (For Work on the Defenses of Germany), on a smooth background field. The age dulled, bronze wash is retained about 95%. The medal loop and the ribbon suspension ring are both intact and come complete with a roughly, 3 cm wide, 15 cm long, piece of original ribbed rayon ribbon. The ribbon shows light age toning and light to moderate color fading. The medal has no visible manufacturer’s marks.
