{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-framed-west-wall-medal-group-with-1940-award-document-to-erich-kurz-and-two-medals-11-x-21","title":"Original German WWII Framed West Wall Medal Group with 1940 Award Document to Erich Kurz and Two Medals - 11\" x 21\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an interesting German WWII Deutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen, commonly known to collectors as the West Wall Medal, display group consisting of a named 1940 award document and two examples of the decoration mounted together in a framed presentation approximately \u003cb\u003e28 cm x 53 ½ cm (11\" x 21\")\u003c\/b\u003e. One medal is displayed obverse-out and the second reverse-out, allowing both sides of the award to be seen without disturbing the mounting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost importantly, the document is named to \u003cb\u003eErich Kurz\u003c\/b\u003e, dated \u003cb\u003e10 June 1940 at Landau\/Pfalz\u003c\/b\u003e, and bears the clearly visible service seal of \u003cb\u003eFestungs-Pionierstab 20\u003c\/b\u003e. This is a particularly appropriate issuing formation, as Festungs-Pionierstab 20 was established at Landau and was directly involved in the German fortification organization associated with the western defenses. German archival references confirm that the staff was formed at Landau on 12 October 1937 and remained there through this period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe West Wall Medal existed in \u003cb\u003eone class only\u003c\/b\u003e. Accordingly, the document records the award of a single decoration to Kurz. The inclusion of two medals in this display appears to have been done so that the obverse and reverse can be viewed simultaneously and should not be interpreted as evidence that Kurz received the award twice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe obverse-facing medal displays the characteristic design of the West Wall Medal: a German national eagle with a wreathed swas. above a crossed sword and spade, with a fortified bunker below, all enclosed within an oak-leaf border. The second medal is mounted reverse-out and displays the raised inscription:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFÜR ARBEIT\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e ZUM\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e SCHUTZE\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e DEUTSCHLANDS\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTranslated as:\u003ci\u003e “For Work in the Protection of Germany.”\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth medals are suspended from the characteristic golden-brown ribbon with white stripes near each edge. The obverse-facing example retains a warm bronze-brown appearance consistent with the \u003cb\u003ebronze or tombak construction used for early production of the West Wall Medal following its institution in 1939\u003c\/b\u003e. The reverse-facing example has a noticeably darker gray surface, an appearance often encountered on the \u003cb\u003ebronzed zinc medals produced for the renewed 1944 issue\u003c\/b\u003e, after much of the applied bronze-colored finish has worn or deteriorated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiven the \u003cb\u003e10 June 1940\u003c\/b\u003e date of Erich Kurz’s award document, an early bronze or tombak example would be chronologically appropriate for his original decoration. The darker medal may represent a later zinc-production example subsequently incorporated; however, this cannot be established conclusively without removing and examining the medals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBoth show expected age and finish wear, while the ribbons exhibit some fading and minor handling wear but remain complete as displayed. The group is mounted beneath glass in a decorative frame. Since the medals have not been removed from the frame, their concealed faces, suspension construction, exact base-metal composition, and any possible maker characteristics have not been examined.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAbove the medals is the original award document to \u003cb\u003eHerr Erich Kurz\u003c\/b\u003e. The document was issued at Landau\/Pfalz on 10 June 1940 under the authority of the General of Engineers and Fortifications at Army High Command. The printed authority is \u003cb\u003eJacob\u003c\/b\u003e, identified as Generalleutnant Alfred Jacob, with the document locally certified by an Oberstleutnant serving as deputy commander. Jacob held the position of General der Pioniere und Festungen within the Army High Command during this period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe document remains quite presentable, with expected toning. The printed text, recipient's name, date, serial number, service seal and certification signature remain readily visible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe document reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIm\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e Namen des führers\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e verleihe ich\u003cbr\u003e dem\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eHerrn Erich K u r z\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003edas\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e Deutsche Schutzwall=\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e Ehrenzeichen\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eLandau\/Pfalz, den 10. Juni 1940.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDer General der Pioniere und Festungen\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e beim Oberbefehlshaber des Heeres\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eJacob\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Generalleutnant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCircular service seal:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eFestungs-Pionierstab 20\u003cbr\u003e (Dienstsiegel)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt lower right:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eFür die Richtigkeit:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e[handwritten signature]\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eOberstlt. u. stellv. Kommandeur\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e (Dienstgrad und Dienststellung)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt lower left:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eNr. 25877\/.....\u003cbr\u003e des Verzeichnisses der Verleihungsstelle\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe handwritten certifying signature is clearly present, although we have not been able to identify the officer's name with enough certainty to attribute it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIn the name of the führer,\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I award to\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eMr. Erich Kurz\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ethe\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e German Defense Wall\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e Honor Decoration.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eLandau, Palatinate, 10 June 1940.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe General of Engineers and Fortifications\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e with the Commander-in-Chief of the Army\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eJacob\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003eLieutenant General\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eService seal:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eFortress Engineer Staff 20\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLower right:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCertified correct:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e[signature]\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLieutenant Colonel and Deputy Commander\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLower left:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eNo. 25877\/.....\u003cbr\u003e of the register of the awarding office\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wording is significant because Kurz is identified only as \u003cb\u003e“Herr”\u003c\/b\u003e, or “Mr.,” rather than by military rank or organizational title. The certificate therefore does not establish whether he was a civilian worker, engineer, government employee, labor-service member, or military serviceman, and no more specific occupation should be assigned to him without additional documentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cb\u003eDeutsches Schutzwall-Ehrenzeichen\u003c\/b\u003e was established by official decree on \u003cb\u003e2 August 1939\u003c\/b\u003e in recognition of work connected with Germany's defensive fortification program. The regulations appeared in the \u003ci\u003eReichsgesetzblatt\u003c\/i\u003e immediately before the outbreak of the Second World War. Eligibility was subsequently broadened in November 1939, including certain military personnel who had served for the required period on the western defensive system. The decoration was therefore associated with construction and fortification service rather than battlefield bravery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe western defensive system itself was an enormous engineering undertaking. The Bundesarchiv describes the Westwall as extending approximately \u003cb\u003e630 kilometers\u003c\/b\u003e and incorporating more than \u003cb\u003e18,000 fortification works\u003c\/b\u003e of various types. Engineer staffs, construction organizations and specialized fortress-pioneer formations coordinated the planning, construction and maintenance of this network.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis particular document has a much more specific connection to that organization than a generic West Wall certificate. Its \u003cb\u003eFestungs-Pionierstab 20\u003c\/b\u003e seal corresponds directly with the place of issue. Archival organizational records state that Festungs-Pionierstab 20 was formed at \u003cb\u003eLandau on 12 October 1937\u003c\/b\u003e, in Wehrkreis XII, and was initially subordinate to Festungs-Pionier-Kommandeur V in the Saarpfalz area. By 1940 it incorporated three \u003ci\u003eAbschnittsgruppen\u003c\/i\u003e, or sector groups. The staff remained associated with Landau until its reorganization for service in Norway in May 1941.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe officer named in print on the document, \u003cb\u003eAlfred Jacob\u003c\/b\u003e, was closely connected with German fortress engineering. The office of the \u003cb\u003eGeneral der Pioniere und Festungen\u003c\/b\u003e was established in 1939 to advise the Commander-in-Chief of the Army on pioneer troops, fortifications, technical development and the employment of personnel and material for defensive construction. Jacob occupied this senior position from October 1939.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn interesting detail is that the form identifies Jacob by the printed rank \u003cb\u003eGeneralleutnant\u003c\/b\u003e. Available biographical records indicate that his promotion to \u003cb\u003eGeneral der Pioniere\u003c\/b\u003e became effective on 1 June 1940, only nine days before this certificate was dated. The continued appearance of his former rank may therefore represent the use of preprinted award forms prepared before the promotion rather than an indication that the certificate itself predates 10 June.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe local connection is further strengthened by the leadership history of Festungs-Pionierstab 20. Colonel \u003cb\u003eOtto Roesinger\u003c\/b\u003e had commanded the staff at Landau since its formation in October 1937 and remained its commander through 1940. The certificate, however, is expressly certified by an \u003cb\u003e“Oberstlt. u. stellv. Kommandeur,”\u003c\/b\u003e meaning a lieutenant colonel acting as deputy commander. This explains why the handwritten certifying signature is not Roesinger's.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45786471202885,"sku":"ONSV26CBZ044","price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26CBZ044__01.jpg?v=1789666664","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-framed-west-wall-medal-group-with-1940-award-document-to-erich-kurz-and-two-medals-11-x-21","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}