German West Wall Medal 1939 – Original Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen with Ribbon

Description

This original Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen, known to English-speaking collectors as the West Wall Medal, was instituted on 2 August 1939 for work on Germany’s western border fortifications, the Westwall or Siegfried Line. It shows the eagle, crossed sword and spade and fortification motif on the obverse and the six-line inscription Für Arbeit zum Schutze Deutschlands on the reverse, and it comes with its brown-and-white ribbon.

What is the West Wall Medal?

The Westwall was a chain of bunkers, concrete positions, anti-tank obstacles and supporting works built along Germany’s western frontier, with construction accelerated in 1938 and 1939. The medal was instituted on 2 August 1939 for those who designed, planned and built it; according to the Australian War Memorial, more than 600,000 workers were involved. Members of the armed forces who served on the fortifications were also made eligible.

Awards were suspended in January 1941. In October 1944 the medal was revived, struck in zinc, for the workers and soldiers sent to repair and strengthen Germany’s frontier defences as the Allied armies approached. The decoration therefore spans two very different moments: the pre-war preparations of 1938–39 and the reinforcement of the borders in the last months of the war.

How is it identified?

The medal is oval. The obverse shows the eagle with the period state emblem above a crossed sword and spade, symbolising the military and construction sides of the project, over a stylised fortification, all within an oak-leaf border. The reverse reads, in six lines, FÜR ARBEIT ZUM SCHUTZE DEUTSCHLANDS (“For Work in the Defence of Germany”), also within an oak-leaf wreath. The ribbon is golden brown with a white stripe near each edge.

The original 1939 medals were struck in bronze; the 1944 striking was in bronzed zinc. INS100 has lost most of its bronze-coloured surface and shows a predominantly grey appearance, which is consistent with zinc production. The material has not been tested, so I describe it as probable zinc. No maker mark is visible.

Why collect it?

The West Wall Medal belongs to the history of fortification and labour rather than to the battlefield. It is relevant to collections on the Siegfried Line, German military engineering, the Organisation Todt and Reichsarbeitsdienst, and the mobilisation of civilian labour before and during the war. For other German awards of the period, see our WWII German Medals collector’s guide and the Ostmedaille (INS98).

Collector’s Note

A grey West Wall Medal should be examined closely rather than dismissed: on the zinc striking the bronze wash wears quickly, and a well-defined West Wall Medal like this one still shows every element of the design.

Condition

Good historical condition with clear age-related wear:

• Dark patina, with extensive loss of the original bronze-coloured surface and grey base metal visible, particularly on the obverse.
• Eagle, emblem, sword and spade, fortification motif and oak-leaf border all clearly identifiable.
• Reverse inscription fully readable.
• Suspension loop and ring intact.
• Ribbon in the correct pattern, with storage folds and light wear.
• Surface oxidation consistent with age.

Supplied as the medal and ribbon only: no packet or award document. All photographs show the actual piece offered and form part of this condition description.

Frequently asked questions

What does “Für Arbeit zum Schutze Deutschlands” mean?
“For Work in the Defence of Germany”.

Was it a combat award?
No. It recognised work on the western fortifications, by civilians and by soldiers serving on them.

Why is it grey?
Most of the bronze-coloured surface has worn away. Its appearance is consistent with the zinc striking, though the metal has not been tested.

Is INS100 maker marked?
No maker mark is visible.

Historical Responsibility Notice

This item is offered exclusively as a historical artefact for collecting, preservation, education and research. Period political symbolism is visible because it forms an integral part of the original design. Autographs & Militaria does not endorse or glorify the ideology or political system it represents.

References & Further Reading

• Australian War Memorial, German West Wall Medal (RELAWM30375) – institution date, eligibility, inscription, ribbon and the zinc striking of October 1944.
• John R. Angolia, For Führer and Fatherland: Political & Civil Awards of the Third Reich (R. James Bender Publishing, 1989) – institution, criteria and award figures.