WAR AND PEACE MEDALS

European commemorative medals 20th century

WW1 and WW2

Austria, Belgium, Britain, France, Germany

The themes of the following historical medals are war and peace as propaganda, satire, heroism, tragedy and and the triumph of hope, generosity and resolve. They merit study so that we don't repeat the mistakes of the past.

Updated November 2007 - scheduled for updating Please note that medals are offered subject to being unsold.
Medals are made of bronze, struck, in extremely fine condition and of date contemporary with original design, unless described otherwise. Please see our terms and conditions of sale for buying notes.
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Hermann Stegemann, 1870-1945, German historian of WW1 by Louis Muller rev. 'Pro Veritate" for truth: Herakles slaying serpents - style in the manner of German propaganda medals of the first world war. Stegemann was awarded the Goethe prize in Frankfurt in 1935. Possibly this medal was made then. 100mm cast bronze. SOLD
Germany: 1914-15 Hindenburg "Titan" by O. Hopper/Lauer. Zetzmann 4029 AR 33.3mm. very slight rubbing on forehead otherwise EF and reverse gEF irridescent toning SOLD
Germany: V. Beseler der Bezwinger Antwerpens, facing portrait by Kuchler; reverse date Antwerp taken by the Germans 9.10.1914 (design Grunthal), Zetzmann 4035, rare, superb condition, irridescent toning £55
(German Aviator & WW1 Ace) Oberleutenant Bolcke by BM, rev. small fighter monoplane (Fokker) with iron cross decoration "Wo Mut und Kraft in 1914-1916" 2 eagles holding wreath in their beaks, propeller centre. (Boelcke was Richthofen's mentor (the Red Baron), flew the first Fokker E.1, and devised tactics later used by German aces. Died October 1916) .zinc, traces of gilding, gVF 40mm. rare £110
Germany: General von Emmich - Capture of Liege 7.8.1914 portrait by Kuchler; reverse view of Liege (Luttich) in flames with nude soldier(Inaugural battle of the Western Front and breach of Belgian neutrality. ) ed. Grunthal, Zetzmann 4008 AR 34mm. EF £65
Germany: FregatteKapitan von Muller of the SMS Emden, (sunk by by the Australian HMAS Sydney) Zetzman 4051, 1914 Lauer, AR 34mm. good EF irridescent toning £200
Germany Excellenz Graf Ferd. von Zeppelin by Eue and Oertel; 1915 German Fleet and Zeppelin airship overhead, Zetzmann 2114, very rare, Unc £110
France (Battle of Verdun) Retaking the Fort of Douaumont 24 October 1916- Le General Mangin devant Douaumont (Mangin at Douamont with view of trenches) rev. solitary flag on mound with text of speech by General Nivelle 1916 about taking the fort in 4 hours. Taking back Douaumont was a popular moral imperative for French politicians and generals, and this medal celebrates their "success". Part of one of the most futile episodes of the war on the Western Front. by Pillet AE67.5mm nEF SOLD
Italy: Dux portrait of Mussolini with army helmet, uniface. Base metal, black patina, 52.5mm. probably set into a frame or desk ornament. Fascist art style of 1930's Strong image and rare EF £45
France Heroes of the Battle of Verdun 1916 commemorative medal with portraits in vignette of Petain, Nivelle and Curieres de Castelnaud with winners laurels; rev. "On Ne Passe Pas" 1916 German crowned eagle attacking a steadfast defender, backed by the Republic, design by Ch. Pillet, AE 68mm. EF £40
France: WW1 Bombardment of Reims 1914-1915 War on the Western Front Qu'est cela? C'est la nuit... Et que sera la Fin? L'Aurore (What's that? Night.. Where will it end? Dawn) quotation from the Romantic, radical writer, Victor Hugo on a propaganda medal issued by the French. On one side a German soldier holding his dagger steps over his victims and the blazing medieval cathedral; reverse is a peaceful rebuilt town centre. Design by L Chavillaud. 60x80mm.Unusual gEF SOLD
France. La Grande Guerre 1914-1918 The Great War personified by the virago, Gallia, on horseback; reverse symbols of power, axe and bundle of fasces. Post-War propaganda commemorative medal. by A Willette AE 50mm gVF £25
France: Patria by Huguenin, prize medal with Marianne, symbol of the French Republic, helmeted with cockerel and laurels. AE50mm. VF £18
France: Sapeur/Fireman's Service Award Ville de Bois-Colombes, dove in nest motto Cuique Nidus (for each nest) and tower to right rev. engraved"Sapeur Joly, M 16 Ans de Services" design by M Jacquim plaquette AE49x76mm. lightly polished VF SOLD
Belgium: State of Antwerp medal of thanks to USA, 1914-1916, Belgium bringing flowers to the seated, republican embodiment of the American people by Bartes, Antwerp. AE53mm. cleaned so VF £28
France: Batailles d'Artois, by Dammaan uniface trial striking, post-war design, early Art Deco. AE59mm. £35
France: Jules Louis Breton, designer of the WW1 tank, Char d'Assaut Schneider, pictured here going over trenches on the reverse of the medal. It was one of the first types to be used to effect on the battlefields of northern France. Struck bronze. rare. SOLD
Belgium: Pro Patria 1914-1918 commemorative medal, Belgium placing a palm branch on the dead soldier, laying on top of his trench; by H Heusers for Fisch & Co. AE60mm. unusual to include trench in design, fairly crude finish but EF £30
France Aux Dames de la Croix Rouge by Allouard. soldier blinded by poison gas aided by a Red Cross nurse; reverse a Victory hovers of the body of a nurse, killed in action, with burning buildings in the background. 53x70mm. Some surface dirt but EF SOLD

(France) Charity medal, by Louis Desvignes; woman giving aid to an elderly widow; reverse - a young boy feeds a small bird. struck bronze 50mm. VF SOLD

For more Charity medals see the Art Nouveau page

(Austria) Charity 1914-15, medal by Tautenhayn for the Leopold hospital - a nurse accompanied by a small girl holding her doll, gives a bowl of food to a wounded soldier, reverse blank VF SOLD  
(France WW2) Allied advance for the liberation of the South of France - Marseille, St Tropez 16 August 1944 map with US and Free French flags by Vezien; obverse dominated by a winged Victory with an advancing force of soldiers, marines and sailors. Struck bronze 68mm. VF SOLD
(France WW2) Liberation de Paris, Journees du 19 au 26 aout by L Bazor, 1944. A Parisian with a rifle in one hand a pistol in the other, an improvised Molotov cocktail at his feet, arms raised in triumph with scenes of upturned vehicles and tanks in the background, the aftermath of battle. nVF 68mm bronze SOLD
(Belgium) Cardinal Mercier Hommage National by J Jourdain; rev. a fallen soldier comforted and encouraged by Faith personified with flag. 'Patriotisme Endurance' small bronze medal 37mm EF £12
(Belgium) Cardinal Mercier 1851-1926 portrait of the Belgian patriot with a view of the College Cardinal Mercier Braine l'Alleud. Design by Ant. Jorisfer (?), Fisch & Co, Bronze 68mm. original card box £32

Germany Europas Selbstmord Europe's Suicide 1917 by Karl Goetz. Europa astride the bull, terrified while soldiers bayonets attack them; rev Die Lachen den Erben 1917 (The Laughing Heirs) USA and Japan pictured as the beneficiaries of Europe tearing itself apart. Kienast 199, cast iron as issued 82mm (large format) SOLD

(click on image for larger picture)

Germany Welt Richter Judges of the World. Various Allied Powers applaud Woodrow Wilson's reply to Germany Oct 14 1918; reverse US eagle with two outstretched hands containing a crown and a small Nike (Victory), Friss oder Stirb: Devour or Die, Kienast 211, cast iron as issued 58mm. £85

Austria (Vienna) Red Cross charity War relief medal, Weltkreig Infantryman - dog-handler going to the aid of an injured soldier 1914-1916, by A Kogler. Zinc - slightly mottled, VF Zn49mm.SOLD

Austria: Conrad Freiherr von Hotzendorf 1915, by Alfred Hoffmann Red Cross War relief medal (Kriegsfursorge) iron 45mm. gVF £25

(Austrian Chief of Staff and Commander in Chief of Austro-Hungarian forces from 1906 until 1917, largely responsible for Austrian defeats against Serbia at beginning WW1 but still considered by some a brilliant military strategist)

Austria/Poland Przemysl Red Cross War relief medal (Kriegsfursorge) - up to 115,000 people were killed, wounded or missing during the battle for this Carpathian fortress. Austro-Hungarian forces defeated by the Russian advance. ZN45mm nEF SOLD
Austria Red Cross War Relief medal - Submarine/ Untersee by W Huda (?) Zn45mm nEF SOLD
Britain comes to the aid of Belgian Neutrality L'Angleterre Champion du Droit contre la Violence 4 aout 1914 Britannia crossing the English Channel armed with her sword, trident and the scales of justice; rev. Comparison of the Treaty of London 1839 (shown with signatures) and words of the German Chancellor to British Ambassador in 1914. transl. "For one word, neutrality, for a bit of paper, Great Britain is going to war". AE68mm by Henri Dropsy (French manufacture 1923 post-war commemorative/propagandist medal) gEF £60

 

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Condition is described in numismatic terms and is generally extremely fine unless specified. The medals are the original strikings/castings unless specified otherwise.

EF almost as issued extremely fine, VF some wear very fine, F fine or worn n=near as in nVF nearly very fine; Condition if it isn't specified is extremely fine or as cast.

Metals: AV = gold, AR = silver, AE = bronze Zn = zinc

   
   

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