German Occupation Medals
Encyclopedia
The German Occupation Medals were a series of awards, also known as the "Flower War medals", created to commemorate the annexation of Austria
, Czechoslovakia
and the Memelland by Nazi Germany
in the interwar period. All three medals were designed by Professor Richard Klein
, Director of the Munich School of Applied Arts and a favoured artist of the Nazi establishment.
was appointed German Chancellor in 1933, it was on his immediate agenda to consolidate his power. Having accomplished this through a series of political moves and strong arm tactics, his next goal was to rebuild the German Armed Forces. It was impossible to rebuild the armed forces without breaking the Versailles Treaty, but this could not be done safely without a way to defend Germany in case of a response from the Western Allies of France
and the United Kingdom
. Hitler rejected the Versailles Treaty and began to strengthen the Armed Forces. He reinstituted Military drafting in March 1935, took control of the Rhineland in 1936, and sent the Legion Condor to Spain to fight along General Franco and be trained in the art of modern warfare.
Germany began to exert diplomatic pressure with military threats to annex territories which contained German-speaking minorities. The Allies, wishing to avoid war at almost any cost, stood idly by when Austria
was annexed
, gave in to Hitler's demands in Czechoslovakia
, and allowed the return of the Memel district. The "peaceful" expansion process culminated only with the invasion of Poland, when France and England declared war on Germany and World War II
began.
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
, Czechoslovakia
German occupation of Czechoslovakia
German occupation of Czechoslovakia began with the Nazi annexation of Czechoslovakia's northern and western border regions, known collectively as the Sudetenland, under terms outlined by the Munich Agreement. Nazi leader Adolf Hitler's pretext for this effort was the alleged privations suffered by...
and the Memelland by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
in the interwar period. All three medals were designed by Professor Richard Klein
Richard Klein (artist)
Richard Klein was a German artist, known mainly for his work as a favoured artist of the Nazi regime. Klein was director of the Munich School of Applied Arts and was one of Hitler's favourite painters....
, Director of the Munich School of Applied Arts and a favoured artist of the Nazi establishment.
Background
When Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
was appointed German Chancellor in 1933, it was on his immediate agenda to consolidate his power. Having accomplished this through a series of political moves and strong arm tactics, his next goal was to rebuild the German Armed Forces. It was impossible to rebuild the armed forces without breaking the Versailles Treaty, but this could not be done safely without a way to defend Germany in case of a response from the Western Allies of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Hitler rejected the Versailles Treaty and began to strengthen the Armed Forces. He reinstituted Military drafting in March 1935, took control of the Rhineland in 1936, and sent the Legion Condor to Spain to fight along General Franco and be trained in the art of modern warfare.
Germany began to exert diplomatic pressure with military threats to annex territories which contained German-speaking minorities. The Allies, wishing to avoid war at almost any cost, stood idly by when Austria
First Austrian Republic
The Republic of Austria encompasses the period of Austrian history following the signing of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye of September 1919, the settlement after the end of World War I which put an end to the Republic of German Austria, continuing up to World War II...
was annexed
Anschluss
The Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
, gave in to Hitler's demands in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, and allowed the return of the Memel district. The "peaceful" expansion process culminated only with the invasion of Poland, when France and England declared war on Germany and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
began.
The medals
-
Anschluss MedalAnschluss MedalThe Anschluss Commemorative Medal was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded in the interwar period.-Description:Instituted on May 1, 1938, the medal commemorated the return of Austria to the German Reich...
(1938) -
Sudetenland MedalSudetenland MedalThe The Sudetenland Commemorative Medal was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded in the interwar period.-Description:...
(1938) -
Memel MedalMemel MedalThe Return of Memel Commemorative Medal was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded in the interwar period, and the last of the series of Occupation Medals.-Description:...
(1939)
See also
- Occupation of Czechoslovakia by Nazi Germany
- AnschlussAnschlussThe Anschluss , also known as the ', was the occupation and annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany in 1938....
- The German annexation of Austria - The German annexation of Memel
- Interwar periodInterwar periodInterwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....