Description
Anschluss Medal. The Anschluss refers to the German annexation of Austria. This piece has the original ribbon.
Instituted on 1 May 1938, the medal commemorated the annexation of Austria by the Germany, the so-called Anschluss. German troops crossed the Austrian border on 12 March 1938 without any resistance. The medal, known as the “Anschluss medal”, was awarded to those personnel, both military and civilian, who contributed to or participated in the annexation. This included German State officials and members of the German Wehrmacht and SS who entered Austria. Local Nazis who had worked for union with Germany also qualified, including the widows of those who had been killed for their cause. Last awarded on 31 December 1940, a total of 318,689 medals were bestowed. LH11996