Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 13.März 1938, a.k.a. Anschluss Medaille, Ostmark-Medaille

Commemorative Medal of March 13, 1938, a.k.a. Anschluss Commemorative Medal

Commemorative Medal of March 13, 1938 was the first in series of three so called “occupation medals” and was instituted on May 01, 1938 to commemorate the anschluss, i.e. annexation of an Austrian Republic by Germany.

Wehrmacht and SS Military personnel who participated in the first “flower war” (March 12-13, 1938) as well as civilians and non combatants such as German state officials, members of the Austrian branch of the NSDAP and other Austrians citizens who contributed or took part in return of the Hitler’s homeland to the Reich were eligible for this award.

Anschluss Commemorative Medal was designed by professor Richard Klein (07.01.1890 – 31.07.1967) and its obverse was later used in two other “occupation medals”, i.e. Commemorative Medal of October 1, 1938 and The Return of Memel Commemorative Medal.  

Obverse showed an allegoric composition of two male figures symbolizing Germany and Austria the former bearing German flag and the latter with broken shackles raising to a podium stand with the Wehrmacht eagle.

Reverse had the date “March 13, 1938” (“13.März 1938”) placed in the centre and a popular unification slogan “One People, One State, One Leader” (“Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer”) surrounding it. That inscription was separated by three swastika symbols.

Round highly detailed medal was made of bronze and tombak with silver matte finish and was 32 mm in diameter.

31 mm wide red ribbon had three thin white-black-white stripes 1 mm wide each at both edges.

Commemorative Medal of March 13, 1938 was awarded until December 13, 1940. Totally 318,689 medals were awarded.