Awards of Germany - Medal for many years of voluntary Samaritan service

The medal shown here was awarded for 10 years of voluntary Samaritan service and was most likely donated by the Land Samaritan Association of Saxony around 1920. Samaritan German clubs met at the 1st Samaritan Meeting on August 22-25, 1895 in Kassel. It was there that the foundation was laid for the creation of the German Samaritan Union. Unions, organizations and sanitary trains in fire departments dedicated to Samaritans and rescuers in peacetime were to organize into land unions. An all-German Samaritan day was to be held each year. As a club and federal magazine, Samaritan was published. The honorary president was Friedrich von Esmarch (1823-1908), considered the founder of the Samaritan cause in Germany. He was a surgeon, privy medical adviser and major general of the medical corps of the Prussian army. These include, in particular, knitwear and first aid kit.
On September 18-20, 1896, the German Samaritan Union was founded in Berlin. 11 Samaritan days passed before World War II. In 1908, the Union was renamed the "German Society of Samaritans and Rescuers." During the World War, the Samaritans practically ceased to exist. The reason for this was also the conscription of members into the army. Paul Streffer, who became chairman in 1912, did not attempt to revive the society until 1926. In Saxony, which even before the war was considered the center of Samaritan clubs, the Landsamarite Association continued to hold land meetings. In 1927, there were 45 more Samaritan societies, with about 5,000 registered persons, 110 cooperative members and 1874 active members.

Round bronze medal with raised border. Above is a soldered ordinary eye with a ribbon ring.

Front side:

In
• the lower half in the center is an elevated smooth cross in the form of an Iron Cross without fields and inscription.
• On the back side there are 2 laurel branches of 3 groups of leaves with fruits reaching to the middle.
In the
• center - 3/4 circle with a ray wreath (Sun?).
In
• the upper half, a 2-line font is curved along the edge and circumference:
• - NOBLE - BE - WHO - MAN -/- USEFUL - AND - GOOD -.

Downside:

In the
• center is a curved tape cut from the side and twisted inward at the ends.
• It has an elevated, 2-line font:
• - FOR - VOLUNTEERS -/- SAMARITAN SERVICES -.

Tape:

• 27 mm wide, alternating between 5 white and 4 red stripes of 3 mm.

Paintings from the collection of Mikhail Belenky.
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