Eastern Medal
The Eastern Front Medal, Winterschlacht Im Osten, more commonly known as the Ostmedaille was instituted on 26.05.1942 to mark service on the German Eastern Front (World War II) during the period 15.11.1941 to 15.04.1942. It was commisioned to recognise the hardship endured by all German personnel, combatant or non-combatant, during the especially bitter winter of '41/'42. The appaling conditions suffered by German troops on this front soon led to the medal being nick named the "Gefreierfleischorden" or Frozen Meat Order
Qualification for the award was as follows:-
- 14 days served in active combat within the specified area between 15.11.1941 - 15.04.1942
- 60 days served in specified area between 15.11.1941 - 15.04.1942, non-combat
- Wounded in action
- Killed in action (posthumous award)
- Injury caused by frostbite(or another injuy related to the climate) severe enough to warrant the issue of a Wound Badge
Unique in that its designer was a contemporary serving soldier, SS-Unterscharfurher E. Kraus, the medal was held in high regard by all branches of the Wehrmacht. Measuring 36mm in diameter, of (generally) zinc construction the medal was given a gun-metal style coating. . On one side an eagle grasps a Swastika and the other features the text "Winterschlacht Im Osten 1941/42" with a crossed sword and branch. The helmet and outer ring were polished silver. A ribbon bar accompanied the medal (which was usually issued in a paper envelope, which was usually dicarded)was coloured red symbolic of blood, white symbolic of snow and black symbolic of death. The medal itself was not worn on the combat tunic as per the iron cross for example, but worn as a ribbon bar, or as the ribbon alone through the second from top tunic buttonhole as per Iron Cross 2nd Class. Over 3 million were issued by the time the order was disbanded on 04.09.1944 .