{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-russian-front-ostmedaille-with-named-award-document-to-alfred-lechner-kraftwagen-transport-abteilung-567-pencil-artwork-modern-custom-framed-21-x-13","title":"Original German WWII Russian Front Ostmedaille with Named Award Document to Alfred Lechner, Kraftwagen-Transport-Abteilung 567 \u0026 Pencil Artwork - Modern Custom Framed - 21” x 13”","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an attractive framed German WWII Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941\/42”, more commonly known as the Ostmedaille or Russian Front Medal, displayed with an original named award document to \u003cb\u003eGefreiter Alfred Lechner of Stab\/Kw.Trsp.Abt. 567\u003c\/b\u003e and a pencil rendering of the medal’s obverse. The grouping is housed in a modern custom wood frame measuring approximately \u003cb\u003e21” x 13”\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Ostmedaille features the characteristic German steel helmet and stick grenade above the national eagle and central swas., with a laurel branch behind the emblem. It is suspended from its distinctive red ribbon with the narrow white-black-white center stripe. The medal displays the darkened finish and age patina commonly encountered on surviving examples.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf particular interest is the accompanying award certificate, dated \u003cb\u003e18 October 1942\u003c\/b\u003e, naming \u003cb\u003eGefreiten Alfred Lechner\u003c\/b\u003e of the staff of \u003cb\u003eKraftwagen-Transport-Abteilung 567\u003c\/b\u003e, a German Army motor transport formation. The official seal at lower left bears \u003cb\u003eFeldpostnummer 41729\u003c\/b\u003e; surviving wartime field-post records associate this number with the staff of \u003cb\u003eKraftwagen-Transport-Abteilung z.b.V. 567\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompleting the display is a period-style pencil drawing depicting the obverse design of the Ostmedaille, including the helmet, grenade, eagle and swas. The drawing bears the handwritten notation \u003cb\u003e“AC 40”\u003c\/b\u003e at lower right. The meaning of this notation is unknown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe document reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIM NAMEN DES FÜHRERS\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e UND\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e OBERSTEN BEFEHLSHABERS\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e DER WEHRMACHT\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eIST DEM\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eGefreiten Alfred L e c h n e r,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eStab\/Kw.Trsp.Abt. 567,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAM \u003c\/b\u003e18. Oktober 1942\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDIE MEDAILLE\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e WINTERSCHLACHT IM OSTEN\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e 1941\/42\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e (OSTMEDAILLE)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eVERLIEHEN WORDEN.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eFÜR DIE RICHTIGKEIT:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eHaberzettl\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eHauptmann u. Abt.-Adj.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe circular official seal reads:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDienststelle Feldpostnummer 41729\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt roughly translates to:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eIN THE NAME OF THE FÜHRER\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003eAND\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e SUPREME COMMANDER\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e OF THE WEHRMACHT\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eTHERE HAS BEEN AWARDED TO\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eGefreiter Alfred Lechner,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eStaff, Motor Transport Battalion 567,\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eON \u003c\/b\u003e18 OCTOBER 1942\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTHE MEDAL\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e WINTER BATTLE IN THE EAST\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e 1941\/42\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e (EASTERN MEDAL)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eFOR ACCURACY:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eHaberzettl\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eCaptain and Battalion Adjutant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe medal remains in good original display condition with substantial age-darkening, oxidation and finish loss typical of its construction, particularly across the helmet, eagle and surrounding surfaces. The raised design remains well defined. The ribbon is complete and displays very well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe award document remains in very good condition with only minor staining and handling marks. The recipient's name, unit, award date, official seal and signature remain clear and legible. The pencil artwork likewise shows toning and surface marks while retaining a strong and attractive image.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll three pieces have been arranged behind glass with red backing and contrasting black-and-white matting in a modern custom wood frame. Please consult the photographs for the exact condition and presentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Ostmedaille was created in May 1942 as a retrospective recognition of service during the exceptionally severe first winter campaign in the Soviet Union. The qualifying period ran from 15 November 1941 through 15 April 1942, so Lechner’s certificate dated 18 October 1942 records the later formal presentation of an award earned through service during the preceding winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat campaign placed enormous strain on German transport and supply organizations. Vast distances, inadequate road networks, extreme cold, vehicle breakdowns, fuel shortages, and the difficulty of supplying rapidly advancing formations made motor transport units an essential part of operations on the Eastern Front. Personnel assigned to formations such as Kraftwagen-Transport-Abteilung 567 helped move ammunition, fuel, food, equipment, and other supplies between rear-area depots and operational units under increasingly difficult conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe hardships of the winter of 1941–42 became so closely associated with the decoration that German soldiers gave it the darkly humorous nickname \u003cb\u003e“Gefrierfleischorden,”\u003c\/b\u003e roughly “Frozen Meat Medal.”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45756388868165,"sku":"ONSV26CBZ045","price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26CBZ045__01.jpg?v=1789486598","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-russian-front-ostmedaille-with-named-award-document-to-alfred-lechner-kraftwagen-transport-abteilung-567-pencil-artwork-modern-custom-framed-21-x-13","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}