{"product_id":"germany-wehrmacht-a-pair-of-service-medals-with-ribbon-bar-from-the-estate-of-a-major-in-soviet-captivity-m0718-4","title":"Germany, Wehrmacht. A Pair of Service Medals, with Ribbon Bar, from the Estate of a Major in Soviet Captivity","description":"\u003cp\u003e(\u003cem\u003eAuszeichnungen mit Bandschnalle\u003c\/em\u003e). A pair of service medals, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e1. A Wehrmacht 4-Year Long Service Award, constructed of magnetic metal, on loop for suspension with its period original ribbon affixed to a single mount with a horizontal pinback and Heer device, the obverse bearing a Heer-style German national eagle clutching a mobile swastika, circumscribed by an inscription of “TREUE DIENSTE IN DER WEHRMACHT” (“FAITHFUL SERVICE IN THE WEHRMACHT”), the reverse bearing a wreathed number “4”, unmarked, measuring 30.12 mm in diameter, in extremely fine condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e2. A West Wall Medal, constructed of bronze, on loop for suspension from its period original ribbon, consisting of a double-sided oval oak leaf wreath, joined together at the top and bottom by ribbon, the obverse bearing a raised pillbox topped by a crossed sword and shovel and a German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, the reverse bearing an inscription of “FÜR ARBEIT ZUM SCHUTZE DEUTSCHLANDS” (“FOR WORK IN THE PROTECTION OF GERMANY”), unmarked, measuring 33.13 mm (w) x 45.76 mm (h), weighing 16.5 grams, in near extremely fine condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e3. A ribbon bar featuring both decorations, measuring 30 mm in length and featuring a magnetic metal core and horizontal pinback, in near extremely fine condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFootnote: The accompanying awards are offered as part of the estate of a highly-decorated Heer Officer who served throughout the duration of the Second World War. Assigned to a variety of artillery units, including 10. Batterie, Artillerie-Regiment 169 (1939), 12. Batterie\/11. Batterie, Artillery-Regiment 206 (1940-1944), and Stabs-Batterie, III. Abteilung, Artillerie-Regiment 129 (1944), the recipient attained the rank of Major and saw service during the Battle of France (1940), followed by extensive combat operations on the Eastern Front, where he participated in Operation Typhoon from 1941 until 1942 (including the Battle of Moscow), Operation Mars (Rzhev region, late 1942), and in defensive operations during the Red Army’s offensive as part of Operation Bagration.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNotably, the recipient was among a number of German servicemen who escaped the advance of the Red Army aboard a boat in the Baltic Sea, eventually reaching neutral Sweden, where he was interned from 10 May-14 December 1945. Diplomatic pressure from Moscow resulted in approximately 3,000 of these internees being transferred to Soviet custody, with the recipient among them. Arriving in Libau (now Liepāja, Latvia) on 15 December, he was later transferred around various Soviet prisoner of war (POW) camps, and is registered as having been held in Camp 277 in Salaspils from 9 February until 12 June 1946, Camp 350 in Riga from 13 June until 18 November 1946, Camp 266 in Mitau (now Jelgava, Latvia) from 19 November 1944 until 6 December 1947, Camp 7064 in Morshansk (near Moscow), Camp 7185 in Mikhaylovka (Volgograd region) from 7 December 1947 until 17 November 1949. His inmate records indicate that he was married with two children and was released from custody in late 1949, arriving back in Germany the following year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAppropriately reflecting a storied military career which spanned the entirety of the Second World War, followed by internment in harsh conditions, the Officer was the recipient of a wide array of service and merit awards. While the pinnacle of these decorations was the German Cross in Gold, which he received on 8 November 1944, this historically-significant estate reflects a decade-long career of service and sacrifice.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"eMedals","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50146479341845,"sku":"M0718-4","price":100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0713\/9105\/2053\/files\/eMedals_M0718-4_6.jpg?v=1789499878","url":"https:\/\/www.emedals.com\/products\/germany-wehrmacht-a-pair-of-service-medals-with-ribbon-bar-from-the-estate-of-a-major-in-soviet-captivity-m0718-4","provider":"eMedals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}