WWII GERMAN EASTERN PEOPLES 2nd CLASS AWARD -
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and
co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern,
Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945. It was known by many different names depending on
the nation, notably the Great Patriotic War in the former Soviet Union and Russia, while known in Germany as the
Eastern Front, the Eastern Campaign or the Russian Campaign.
The battles on the Eastern Front constituted the largest military confrontation in history. They were characterized
by unprecedented ferocity, wholesale destruction, mass deportations, and immense loss of life variously due to
combat, starvation, disease, and massacres.
Some individuals who lived in the area where the battles were held assisted the German soldiers during the invasion.
Their efforts were recognized by germany by issuing the Eastern People's award.
The item featured here is a WWII German Eastern Peoples silver medal. Also known as the 2nd class award.
It came in Gold, Silver and Bronze.
The award was also issued
in a 1st class type. which came in Silver and
Gold.
In addition to that there were two other variations:
- With swords for bravery.
- Without swords for merit.
There were a total of ten possible versions of this award. Unlike German awards such as the Iron Cross, repeat
awards of the same grade were possible.
The original award was only given to "Eastern Peoples", but the criteria were changed to allow awards of the
silver grades (1st and 2nd Class) with Swords to German cadre personnel. It is interesting to note that this is
the only major German award of World War Two that did not incorporate the swastika in its design.
The design of the medal consists of a green ribbon with white stripes runing down each side. The upper back of
section has a rectangular metal plate that holds the pin and catch.
The medal itself is a sunburst design with a flower in the center. The back has a concave shape. No markings
are found in this example.
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This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII German medals and ribbons. Multiple
detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined points
that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII German award worth?". A price
guide is included here to address this question. The value of the medals and ribbons is reviewed
over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth of the German
awards in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military
antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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This award is currently being
reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality
of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style
and materials employed in the manufacturing of this badge. Attention to the details is critical in
order to be able to determine the authenticity of the badge.
If you have an interest is seeing other badges and awards of the Third Reich, you can do so by going
to our
WWII German Badges and Awards
identification guide. Where we cover Heer (Army), Navy (Kriegsmarine) and
Air Force (Luftwaffe) items.
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