War Commemorative Medal of 1870/71

The War Commemorative Medal of 1870/71 (German: Kriegsdenkmünze für die Feldzüge 1870–71) is a campagian medal presented by Kaiser William I in his capacity as King of Prussia. The medal was presented to commemorate service in the Franco Prussian War. The medal was presented to members of the united German armies. The medal was presented for combat service in bronze, and non-combat service in steel. Each version bore minor differences in inscription and design. Clasps were authorized on the 25th anniversary of the German victory, to commemorate selected battles.

War Commemorative Medal of 1870/71
Kriegsdenkmünze für die Feldzüge 1870–71
Obverse and reverse of the medal
TypeCampaign medal
Awarded forService as a combatant or non-combatant
EligibilityGerman soldiers and civilians
Campaign(s)Franco-Prussian War
Established20 May 1871[1]
Ribbon bar of the medal

Criteria

The war medal was presented to officers, military physicians, civil servants and men of the German armies who took part in the Franco-Prussian war through 2 March 1871. It was also awarded to the crew of the SMS Augusta for service from 11 December 1870 to 2 March 1871.[1]

Appearance
Non-combatant version (obverse)

The medal for combatants was manufactured from captured bronze cannon barrels. The obverse shows the crowned Royal cypher of William I over the inscription Dem siegreichen Heere (To the victorious army). Inscribed around the edge is Gott war mit uns, Ihm sei die Ehre (God was with us, to Him be the glory). The reverse shows a cross with rays between the four arms. In the center of the cross is a laurel wreath surrounding the dates 1870 and 1871. On the edge of the coin is inscribed AUS EROBERTEM GESCHUETZ (From conquered cannon).[1]

The medal for non-combatants is made of steel. It follows a similar design with only minor deviations. The center inscription on the obverse is Für Pflichttreue im Kriege (For devotion to duty in the war). On the reverse the wreath on the cross is of oak leaves.[1]

Clasps

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of victory, clasps were authorized to be worn on the medal on 18 August 1895. The clasps were only allowed to be worn on combatant medals by front line soldiers. The clasps are 6 mm high and 32–39 mm wide and were made of gilt bronze or brass. They are as follows:[2]

Combatant medal with three clasps

Reuse of the Design

The reverse of the medal, with dates "1914-1918", but without rays, was used as the obverse of The Honour Cross of the World War 1914/1918. The German government awarded this to participants, or surviving family members, for service in the First World War. The same ribbon colour scheme was also used.

References
  1. Allerhöchster Erlaß, betreffend die Stiftung einer Kriegsdenkmünze für die Feldzüge von 1870 und 1871 . 1871 – via Wikisource. [scan ]
  2. "Commemorative Medal for 1870-1871 Military Campaigns". Antique-photos.com. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
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