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WWII GERMAN MEDAL - EASTERN FRONT -
The Eastern Front of World War II (der Rußlandfeldzug 1941–1945 (Russian campaign) or der
Ostfeldzug 1941-1945 (Eastern Campaign)) was a theatre of war between the European Axis powers,
Germany, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Croatia and Finland (not an Axis member), and the
Soviet Union which encompassed central and eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945.
Nazi propaganda dubbed the conflict Battle for Survival against Bolshevism or a Crusade
against Bolshevism.
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during
World War II that began on 22 June 1941
Hitler wanted to recognize soldiers who fought in this campaign. He authorized the use of a
medal. Also known as the "frozen meat" medal, the medal for the winter campaign on
Russia is depicted on this page. This medal was instituted in May 26th, 1942.
The design of the front of the medal consists of a standard circle. At the top there is a German helmet
sitting atop a stick grenade where a portion of the helmet extends beyond the perimeter of the circle.
The medal has a suspension ring attached to the top of the helmet. The ribbon is placed through the ring.
The center of the medal has a large eagle with retracted wings. The head is facing right. The eagle is clutching a swastika. The claws are visible. The reverse of the medal is fairly plain. It has the words
"Winterschlacht imosten 1941/42" displayed in raised font. A sword is placed just below the phrase.
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This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII German badges and awards. Multiple
detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined points
that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII German badge worth?". A price
guide is included here to address this question. The value of the badges and awards is reviewed
over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth of the German
badges in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military
antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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The criteria for earning this award included:
Flying over the enemy territory over 30 days. Two weeks of combat on the eastern front. As a complemint to the
wound badge provided it was awarded during actions in the Eastern front.
The eastern front region consisted of territory east of the Ukraine and Ostland.
Personnel authorized to receive this award included:
Administrative personnel Factory workers Military and civilian personnel who directly impacted the war effort.
Personnel killed in action or listed as missing.
The last of these awards was issued on October 1944.
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The "Military minute" is a series of instructional videos created by MilitaryItems.com for the purpose of
providing basic information about military collectibles. The idea is to expose people to the exciting
world of military collectibles.
The video presentation coupled with detailed photographs and written information, including a military
collectible's price guide, and anatomical breakdown of each piece enhances the visitor's experience.
Whether you are a long time collector, a beginner or simply have an interest in the history and value of
each collectible, we hope that you find the information presented here useful.
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This award is currently being reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality
of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style
and materials employed in the manufacturing of this badge. Attention to the details is critical in
order to be able to determine the authenticity of the badge.
If you have an interest is seeing other badges and awards of the Third Reich, you can do so by going
to our WWII German Badges and Awards
identification guide. Where we cover Heer (Army), Navy (Kriegsmarine) and
Air Force (Luftwaffe) items.
GERMAN EASTERN FRONT MEDAL VARIATIONS
The Eastern Front medal was produced by several manufacturers and in different configurations.
The following section displays some of the different types that were manufactured.
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