Germany – Third Reich: Mounted pair of medals comprising: Wehrmacht Long Service Decoration in Silver for 4 Years, complete with silvered eagle emblem on ribbon indicating an Army recipient. Original ribbon; Wehrmacht Long Service Decoration in Gold for 12 Years complete with gold eagle emblem on ribbon indicating and Army recipient. Mounted German style for wear.
Condition: Mounted German style for wear, Good Very Fine
On 16th March 1936, Adolf Hitler ordered the institution of a service award in four classes, each class reflecting the completion of a select number of years of military service. The award was bestowed by each branch of the Wehrmacht (army, navy, and air force) and was issued for four years service (fourth class – silver medal), 12 years (third class – gold medal), 18 years (second class – silver cross), 25 years (first class – gold cross), and 40 years (special class). The 40 year special class was introduced on 10 March 1939.
Recipients of the higher level awards wore the decoration simultaneously with one lower year award. The manner they were worn was:
3rd Class with 4th Class (gold medal with silver medal)
2nd Class with 4th Class (silver cross with silver medal)
1st Class with 3rd Class (gold cross with gold medal).
The Long Service Award was retroactive throughout a service member's career, encompassing Reichswehr service as well as service dating during and before World War I. As such, there were a handful of 40 year awards presented, even though the Nazi era only lasted 12 years (1933-1945).
The awards were worn on the left chest, immediately before the medals commemorating the annexation of Austria, Sudetenland and Memel.
