Eastern Peoples Medal I Class Silver with Swords / Ostvolkmedaille I Klasse Silber mit Schwerter

[Wat05]

Greetings everyone! I am currently looking at this online auction of the 1st Class Eastern People’s Medal, which is in a box. I would like some help on authenticating it, as I currently have very small knowledge on these awards. Is it also known of the maker? I imagine if it is real, it will be a late version made of zinc. Is this correct? Thanks! Also apologies for the low quality photos that are provided.

 

 

 

 

 

[ChrisKelly]

Insofar as I am aware, these Eastern Peoples' Awards were generally not hallmarked, and always found struck in zinc. I find it ironic that the pin, hinge & clasp are always of higher quality metallurgy than the award itself.  I can't really comment on its authenticity with any degree of accuracy, but it looks genuine to me.

Edited December 5 by ChrisKelly

[Wat05]

Excellent, thank you very much for your answer! It is a shame about the general quality of these awards.

[Gordon Craig]

Wat05,

No doubt you have looked on line at these awards before starting a thread on them.  I am also not an authority on this award.  I rely on others in my research.  What is written in the following link is in accordance with other comments on this award.

Regards,

Gordon

 

https://www.thirdreichmedals.com/ostvolk-awards.html 

 

https://foreignvolunteerlegion.com/EasternPeoples2.htm 

 

 

[Wat05]

Here is an update about the badge:

A fellow collector from Russian form, Sammler, has helped me regarding this badge, and provided me with an e-book copy about the variants of the Ostvolkmedaille, written by one of the most respected studiers of phaleristics, named Konstantin (Kostya) Nikolayev. He had written many books on several ODMs, with great information, and knowledge. Sadly, he departed us recently. So to him, I wish an eternal memory, and peaceful rest. I also thank Mikhail who provided me with the book. It was a great help to research this award. Thanks to the great information and help, the results had followed:

 

The badge is from the firm "Rudolf Souval, Wien". According to a German Historian, J. Nimmergut, the badge was produced at the very end of the war, and furthermore, they were made for the western market, for American, and West European Armed Forces. Although data is not available, the high amount of these Souval badges existing can prove these claims. So many were produced in these times, that it eventually resulted in three noticed flaws. The first: There is a small 'bubble' which can be seen above the left side of the hilt, of the left sword (bottom-left of the medal). The second: On the top of the star, the rays fade away going closer to the centre of the badge. The third: A small line on the left of the hinge can be seen. All three faults were visible on the badge, thus proving it was a post-war badge, made for the market, not for the military. I will upload clear photos of these faults soon, so that people can be careful of these post-war Souval badges.