German Awards - Medal "For Courage in the World War 1914-1918."

This medal was issued by the Association of German Naval Societies, since 1922 by the Union of German Naval Societies, since 1920 by its members. Participants in the Navy could purchase this commemorative medal from the Bund. For participants in the naval battle for Skagerrak, special battle marks were granted to the medal. The Union of German Naval Societies established several honorary signs in its existence. He was the governing body of the naval clubs of Germany. For honored members, there was an Honorary Cross of the 1st and 2nd grades. For long-standing members, honorary badges were also awarded for 25 and 40 years of membership. The Union of German Maritime Associations dates back to the Union of German Maritime Associations, founded in June 1891. (Since 1893 the Union of German Naval Unions) the Union was independent of the Imperial Military Union. Only current and former Marines could become members. The goal was camaraderie, traditional education, mutual support, preservation of customs and, until the end of World War I, love for the emperor and the Fatherland. After the World War, this was supplemented by honoring the memory of the dead and supporting the victims of the war and those affected by the war. Since 1908, the club was based in Bremen. Membership grew from 1,000 at creation to approximately 22,000 members and 289 clubs in 1908. By 1932, membership had grown to 35,000, which were organized into 600 clubs. In 1933 it was transformed into the National Socialist German Naval Union and subordinated to the Kriegsmarine. Thus, no later than 1934, the awarding of honorary badges should have ceased. Nothing is known about the manufacturer, as well as the numbers. Source: www.deutscher-marinebund.de, history.

Round medal made of bronze copper alloy without embossed edges. On top there is an embossed parallel eye with a small ring and a ring of tape.

Front side:

• At the bottom, at a distance from the edge, the curved base is about 1/4 of the medal.
In the
• center is a sailor looking left, wearing a shirt and cap.
• He holds the flagpole of a large fluttering imperial military banner with both hands.
• On the right above the pedestal are the numbers of the year - 1914 - and - 1918 -.
• They are separated diagonally by a dew-wrapped anchor.
• On the right above the pedestal is a small stamp cutter - L -. - Menzel -.
• Under the base along the edge between 2 decorative elements, the font is curved:
• - Keep - who - loyalty -.

Downside:

In
• the lower half at a distance from the edge is an image of the sea with waves.
• Below as a boundary are two (imagination) sea creatures with a dot in the center.
• Center submarine moving to the left
• On the horizon - half of the Sun with 11 beams of radiation.
• To the right of the horizon is a steep bank with a tower (Helgoland?).
• To the left of the sun is a steamer (cruiser) with an ascending ferry.
At the
• top is two-line ornamented correspondence: - Der - Bund - Deutscher - Marine - Verein -.
• Including less - For - Valor - in - World Wars -.

Tape:

27 mm black, the central strip is white rolled in equal shares black/white/red.

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