The Ribbon of the War Merit Medal 1939 – A Testament to National Socialist Decoration Policy
The present ribbon for the War Merit Medal 1939 (Kriegsverdienstmedaille 1939) represents an important component of the German award system during World War II. With a width of 30 mm and a length of 140 mm, this unworn ribbon corresponds exactly to the official specifications established by the National Socialist government.
The War Merit Medal was instituted on August 19, 1940 by Adolf Hitler and was intended to recognize wartime merit that was not acquired directly in combat. The decoration was part of a comprehensive system of orders and decorations that was considerably expanded during the Third Reich. It complemented the War Merit Cross, already instituted on October 18, 1939, at a lower level and thus formed the lowest grade of war merit decorations.
The characteristic ribbon displays a specific color combination of red-white-black-white-red, with the red outer stripes each measuring approximately 8 mm in width, the white intermediate stripes approximately 4 mm, and the black center stripe approximately 6 mm. This color scheme was oriented toward the Reich colors and was symbolically charged. The colors black-white-red had been associated with German statehood since the Imperial era and were deliberately adopted by the Nazi regime.
The award criteria for the War Merit Medal were precisely defined in the corresponding regulations. It could be awarded to both military and civilian personnel. Recipients were frequently individuals who had contributed to the German war effort through their work in the armaments industry, medical services, administration, or other areas vital to the war. The medal existed in two versions: in bronze for general merit and in steel for merit under special danger.
The ribbon itself had various purposes. It could be worn as a ribbon bar on the uniform when the actual medal was not worn. This was particularly common with service uniforms, where wearing the complete decoration would have been impractical. The ribbon was mounted on a stiff backing and attached to the left breast. Alternatively, the ribbon could also serve for storage or as a replacement.
The manufacture of medal ribbons was subject to certain standards during the war. Various manufacturers produced these ribbons, with quality and material composition varying depending on the time of production. The early war years generally showed better material quality than later productions, when resource scarcity led to restrictions. The present unworn specimen is obviously in its original condition.
The awarding practice of the War Merit Medal was extensive. Estimates suggest several million awards, making it one of the most frequently awarded decorations of the Third Reich. This underscores its importance as an instrument of motivation and recognition in the total war system of the National Socialist dictatorship.
After the end of World War II, the Law on Titles, Orders and Decorations of July 26, 1957, in the Federal Republic of Germany, fundamentally prohibited the wearing of decorations from the Third Reich if they contained National Socialist symbols such as swastikas. The War Merit Medal 1939 falls under this regulation, as it featured a swastika on its obverse.
From a military-historical perspective, such medal ribbons are important objects of study today. They provide insights into decoration policy, material economy, and the propaganda mechanisms of totalitarian regimes. Collectors and historians particularly value unworn specimens, as they document the original condition and preserve important details about manufacturing techniques and materials.
The scholarly examination of such objects serves historical analysis and documentation of a dark chapter in German history. They are silent witnesses to a system that led millions of people to death and destruction, and remind us of the necessity to understand the mechanisms of totalitarian rule and to warn against them.
