Nazi Anschluss Campaign Medal

Nazi Anschluss Campaign Medal. Obverse: A tall standing figure carrying a swastika banner in his left hand, assisted by a shorter figure with broken shackles (representing freed Austrians) to mount a podium of an eagle, with outstretched wings and wreathed swastika in its talons, symbolising the Greater German Reich. Reverse: In the centre '13 MARZ 1938' on three lines and 'EIN VOLK (swastika) EIN REICH (swastika) EIN FUHRER (swastika)' around the circumference. The medal is fitted with a small loose ring suspender and a piece of 25 mm red ribbon which has thin white, black and white edges.

Awarded to German troops who annexed Austria on 13 March 1938. The obverse is the same as the Sudetenland and Memel medals, known as the 'Flower War' medals because German troops were greeted with floral tributes as opposed to gunfire. There were 318,689 Anschluss medals issued. This medal is part of a collection of Second World War German orders and decorations acquired by Flight Lieutenant K G Hesketh, RAAF Historical Records Section, who was based in London but who made a number of visits to Germany immediately after the Second World War.