Original WWII German 25 Year Faithful Service Medal – C.F. Zimmermann Cased

Description

The WWII German 25 Year Faithful Service Medal is an original period German civil service decoration presented here as an especially attractive complete set with its blue ribbon and red presentation case bearing a C.F. Zimmermann, Pforzheim label.

Officially known as the Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen für 25 Jahre, the decoration was instituted on 30 January 1938 for officials, employees and workers who had completed long and faithful service in the German public sector. The silver grade represented 25 years of service, while a gold version was awarded for 40 years.

WWII German 25 Year Faithful Service Medal design

The WWII German 25 Year Faithful Service Medal has the characteristic cross pattée design associated with this award.

The obverse features a silver-finished cross with textured arms, surrounded by a circular oak-leaf wreath. At the centre is a square black-enamelled period emblem. The reverse carries the raised Gothic inscription:

“Für treue Dienste”

which translates as “For Faithful Service.”

The surviving ribbon is the characteristic cornflower-blue service ribbon, fitted with a horizontal pin attachment to the reverse for wear. Period references identify the 25-year grade as the silver version of this decoration.

C.F. Zimmermann Pforzheim presentation case

One of the strongest collector features of this example is the surviving original-style red presentation box.

The lid is marked with the number “25”, identifying the 25-year grade. More importantly, the interior retains a paper label reading:

C.F. Zimmermann
Pforzheim

C.F. Zimmermann was one of the established German manufacturers associated with period orders and decorations.

The available photographs do not show a separate maker mark on the decoration itself, so the attribution to C.F. Zimmermann is based specifically on the labelled presentation case rather than an independently visible medal marking.

Comparable boxed 25-year Treudienst decorations identified with C.F. Zimmermann, Pforzheim are documented by specialist militaria dealers.

Condition

This WWII German 25 Year Faithful Service Medal presents very well.

The silvered surfaces remain bright, with good definition to the textured fields, raised borders and oak-leaf wreath. The central black enamel remains visually strong and contrasts particularly well with the silver finish.

The reverse inscription “Für treue Dienste” remains clearly legible.

The blue ribbon survives with its fastening pin and displays expected age-related handling and minor wear.

The red presentation case shows normal signs of age and storage, including light edge and surface wear. Its burgundy interior remains present, and the C.F. Zimmermann, Pforzheim label is still clearly readable.

All photographs form an important part of the condition description and show the actual set being offered.

Historical collector interest

Unlike battlefield decorations such as the Iron Cross, the Treudienst-Ehrenzeichen was a civil long-service award, making it an interesting complement to a collection centred on the administrative and civilian structures of Germany during the 1930s and Second World War.

The decoration was instituted in 1938, and wartime circumstances eventually led to the suspension of new awards in 1942, although applications already in progress continued to be processed for a period afterwards.

Complete examples retaining their ribbon and presentation case are considerably more appealing than loose medals, while a surviving manufacturer-labelled box provides an additional point of interest.

Current specialist-market examples of boxed 25-year awards generally appear around €55–70, with condition, manufacturer association and presentation completeness influencing the final price. A C.F. Zimmermann-labelled example has also been recorded by specialist dealers.

This example is offered as a historical collector’s item with our authenticity guarantee.

Historical symbols are shown solely because they form an inseparable part of the original period decoration. The object is offered exclusively for historical, educational and collecting purposes and does not imply endorsement of any political ideology.