Germany - Third Reich: West Wall Medal, 1st type 1939-1940 bronze issue.
Condition: Nearly Extremely Fine
The West Wall Medal / German Defence Medal was instituted on 2 August 1939 and was given to those who designed and built the fortifications on Germany's western borders, known as the West Wall or, in English, the Siegfried Line, and to the troops who served there prior to May 1940. In 1944, as Germany was expecting the arrival of the allied invasion, it was again awarded to those who took part in the fortification of the western borders. In all 622,064 medals were awarded by the end of the war. The medal was struck in bronzed brass.