Germany - Third Reich: German Life Saving Medal in Silver, 1933 to 1945 issue, this being the 1957 denazified version. Fitted with correct ribbon. Scarce.
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine.
The Rettungsmedaille (Lifesaving Medal)wasoriginally established on13th August 1833 by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia. The Prussian Cabinet Order of 4th December 1871 specified that it would be worn before any House Orders without swords, ranking it 8th in order of precedence.The 17th June 1890 revisions of the order of precedence retained it in the same rank. It was awarded to any person who through personal danger had saved another person or who had attempted to andwasawarded for combat or non-combat - with no distinction made in the award itself. Duplicate awards could, and were, made. This series of awards ended in 1924 -- however, there does appear an occassional reference to awards being made into the mid-1930's. With the formation of the Third Reich in 1933, the medal was re-instituted as a national award and retitled the German Life Saving Medal.