WWII German Sudetenland Medal 1938

Description

WWII German Sudetenland Medal 1938

This WWII German Sudetenland Medal 1938 is an example of the German decoration officially titled Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938, commonly known among militaria collectors as the Sudetenland Medal or 1 October 1938 Medal.

The medal commemorated the incorporation of the Sudeten territories into Germany following the political developments of September and October 1938. It formed part of the series of German territorial commemorative medals often collectively described by collectors as the Anschluss medals.

Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938

The decoration was instituted on 18 October 1938 and was awarded to military personnel, government officials and civilians who participated in or contributed to the events connected with the occupation and incorporation of the Sudetenland.

The WWII German Sudetenland Medal 1938 has a highly distinctive design that makes the type immediately recognisable.

On the obverse, two male figures are represented symbolically approaching or standing upon a raised platform. One carries a flag while the lower part incorporates the German national eagle and period emblem.

The design represented the political concept of ethnic Germans being incorporated into the German Reich.

Dated 1 October 1938 reverse

The reverse is particularly useful for identifying this decoration.

At the centre appears the three-line inscription:

1.
OKTOBER
1938

Around the outer border appears the period slogan:

EIN VOLK – EIN REICH – EIN FÜHRER

with small period emblems separating the wording.

All of these principal elements remain clearly visible on the medal shown in the photographs.

Bronze-finished construction

This example displays the characteristic bronze-coloured appearance associated with the decoration.

The medal has developed an attractive aged finish, with darker toning visible in recessed areas while the raised portions retain lighter bronze highlights. This contrast makes the relief design especially clear.

Visible condition characteristics include:

• age patina
• light surface marks
• minor spotting
• darker oxidation in recessed areas
• wear to raised details
• intact suspension loop
• intact large suspension ring

No ribbon is shown with this example, so the medal is offered without ribbon.

The original ribbon associated with the 1 October 1938 medal was approximately 29 mm wide and used black, red and black central stripes with white outer borders.

Historical context

The Sudetenland Medal followed the earlier medal commemorating the incorporation of Austria on 13 March 1938.

Although the two decorations use closely related imagery, the 1 October 1938 date on the reverse immediately identifies this example as the Sudetenland issue.

The medal therefore represents a very specific historical event rather than a general military service award.

For collectors, this makes the WWII German Sudetenland Medal 1938 especially relevant to collections centred on pre-war German expansion, political awards, German commemorative medals and WWII-era militaria.

Collector interest and condition

The piece photographed remains visually strong. The suspension components are present and the principal relief remains sharply readable.