Germany – Third Reich: A fine mounted group of 7 medals comprising: Germany – Imperial: Iron Cross 1914, 2nd Class; Honour Cross 1914-1918 with Swords maker marked O. & B. to top of the reverse; Austria: War Commemorative Medal 1914-1918; Germany – Third Reich: Faithful Service Decoration for 25 Years Service; Entry into Czechoslovakia Medal, 1st October 1938, Hungary: Commemorative Medal for Combatants 1914-1918. Bulgaria - Kingdom of: Commemorative Medal for the War of 1915-1918. Mounted German style for wear.
Mounted group of 7 medals comprising: Germany – Imperial: Iron Cross 1914, 2nd Class; Honour Cross 1914-1918 with Swords maker marked O. & B. to top of the reverse; Austria: War Commemorative Medal 1914-1918; Germany – Third Reich: Faithful Service Decoration for 25 Years Service; Entry into Czechoslovakia Medal, 1st October 1938, Hungary: Commemorative Medal for Combatants 1914-1918. Bulgaria - Kingdom of: Commemorative Medal for the War of 1915-1918. Mounted German style for wear.
Condition: Mounted German style for wear, Good Very Fine
The Faithful Service Medal was founded on 30th January 1938 in two classes and one class to reward civilians in the employ of the public services, and in exceptional cases private concerns, for long and faithful service. All officials, employees, and laborers at any level of the public service (local, regional or national) who completed 25 or more years service were eligible for the Faithful Service Medal in Silver.
The Entry into Czechoslovakia or Sudetenland Medal was instituted on 18th October 1938, the medal commemorated the union of the Sudetenland to Germany.
The medal was awarded to all German (and as well Sudeten) State officials and members of the German Wehrmacht and SS who marched into Sudetenland. Later it was awarded to military personnel participating in the occupation of the remnants of Czechoslovakia on 15th March 1939. It was awarded until 31st December 1940. In all 1,162,617 medals and 134,563 bars were awarded.
For those who had participated in both the occupation of the Sudetenland and the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia on 15th March 1939, a bronze Bar (Spange Prager Burg in German) was approved on 1st May 1939. This Bar featured the Prague Castle on the obverse with two triangular prongs in the back, which held it on the ribbon. The bar, like the medal, die-struck and high in detail, with a bronze finish. It was designed by the sculpturer Hanish-Conée.
It was not until 1932 that Austria awarded a medal to her participants in the Great War. The delay may be ascribed to the great loss of territory and population that Austria suffered as a result of the Treaty of Saint-Germain, a small republic emerging from a great empire. The year 1932 saw the suppression of a Socialist uprising in Vienna and the emergence of an authoritarian right-wing government. The timing of the issue of the medal, and the design of the face, may be seen as significant in this context. The Medal was designed by Edwin Grienauer (1893-1964), a prolific and important Viennese designer of coins and medals
The medal was created by decree on 9 December 1933 and awarded to all participants then living in World War I, both military and civilian, until 31 December 1939. The medal could be awarded to military from the Central Powers and to foreign citizens; in the event the largest such group was German military. Bulgaria felt a great sense of grievance following the loss of territory at the conclusion of the second Balkan War in 1913. When Germany offered to restore all of the lands she had been promised in 1878, Bulgaria, which had the largest army in the Balkans, declared war on Serbia in October 1915. In return, Britain, France and Italy then declared war on Bulgaria. After initial victories, the war became unpopular because of food and other shortages and the revolution in Russia in 1917 had a profound effect on Bulgarian sentiment. When the Allies finally broke out of the Salonika pocket, Bulgaria sued for peace and King Ferdinand I abdicated in favour of his son who became King Boris III. The Treaty of Neuilly that concluded the war took significant territory from Bulgaria and imposed severe restrictions on the future size of her armed forces.
