Ostvolk Medal

Ostvolk Medal
Tapferkeits und Verdienst Auszeichnung für Ostvölker
Awarded by the Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories and Wehrmacht
Type Military award
Eligibility citizens of the Soviet Union under German command;
Germans serving in units manned by Soviet personnel
Awarded for bravery (with swords) or merit (without swords)
Status Obsolete
Statistics
Established 14 July, 1942
Total awarded Approx. 7,000

2nd Class in gold ribbon bar

2nd Class in silver ribbon bar

2nd Class in bronze ribbon bar

The Ostvolk Medal (German: Ostvolkmedaille) or Medal for Gallantry and Merit for Members of the Eastern Peoples - (German: Tapferkeits und Verdienst Auszeichnung für Ostvölker)) was a military award in Nazi Germany, bestowed to the personnel from the former Soviet Union (Ostvolk in German, literally 'the East people').[1]

Design

The medal featured an octactinal (eight pointed) star with plant pattern in the centre. The 1st class was 48 mm in diameter, attachable to the cloth by pin and clasp. The 2nd class was 40 mm in diameter and was worn on a 32 mm wide ribbon.

Classes

The award was designed by Elmar Lang and existed in two classes:

There were two versions: with swords, for bravery, and without, for merit.

Ribbons and wearing

Bronislav Kaminski wearing the 1st class of the award on his tunic below and to the left of the Iron Cross

According to some sources, special ribbons were issued:

There was also a rare second variant class in gold.

The 1st class was worn on the lower left breast, like the Iron Cross, and the 2nd class was worn only as a ribbon.[2] The Germans had to be wearing the Iron Cross 2nd and 1st class before obtaining the silver Ostvolk Medal.

Recipients

In December 1943 17 workers from Zhytomyr (including one woman) were awarded with bronze stars for "saving a valuable property from Bolsheviks".[3]

Notes

  1. "Ostvolkmedaille". World War 2 Awards. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  2. Ostvolk Medal Axis History Factbook
  3. (Russian)Медаль для восточных народов Awards.netdialogue.com
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, February 15, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.