Original cased Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar, complete with its bronze-finished 1 October 1938 medal, black-red-black ribbon, period pin assembly and fitted red presentation case. The award retains an attractive aged patina, while the case carries a gold national eagle on its lid.
€ 200
1 in stock
This cased Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar is an original German period award commemorating the occupation of the Sudetenland in October 1938. Its additional Prager Burg clasp recognised participation in the subsequent occupation of Bohemia and Moravia during March 1939.
The complete set includes the bronze-finished medal, its original black and red ribbon, the applied Prague Castle bar and a fitted red presentation case. Consequently, it represents a considerably more desirable set than the frequently encountered loose medal.
Officially titled the Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938, the award was instituted on 18 October 1938. It became commonly known among collectors as the Sudetenland Medal.
Professor Richard Klein designed the medal. Its obverse presents an allegorical scene in which a standing figure holding a flag assists another figure onto a platform. A national eagle and swastika appear beneath the two men.
The reverse carries the date:
1. Oktober 1938
Around the outer edge appears the period political inscription:
Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Führer
The struck design remains well defined on this example. Furthermore, the bronze-coloured surface retains an even, naturally developed patina.
The most important feature is the original-style Prague Castle Bar, known in German as the Spange Prager Burg. This rectangular bronze bar depicts the Prague Castle skyline in raised relief.
Authorities introduced the clasp on 1 May 1939. It was awarded to qualifying recipients who already held the Sudetenland Medal and had also participated in the German occupation of the remaining Czech territories on 15 March 1939.
Only approximately 134,563 Prague Castle bars were awarded, compared with more than 1.1 million Sudetenland Medals. Therefore, the clasp is considerably scarcer than the basic medal.
On this set, the bar remains correctly mounted across the ribbon. Its reverse attachment plate and retaining arrangement also remain present.
The medal hangs from its correct black-red-black ribbed ribbon with narrow pale edge stripes. These colours were associated with the Sudetenland.
A period horizontal pin assembly is fitted behind the ribbon. The ribbon shows minor age-related fraying and handling wear, particularly around its upper edge. However, it remains complete and displays the medal correctly.
The darkened suspension ring and adjoining fittings show age consistent with the patinated bronze medal.
This cased Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar comes in a rectangular burgundy presentation case. A gold national eagle and swastika appear on its textured lid.
Inside, the fitted base is covered in red velvet. Meanwhile, the lid retains its cream-coloured padded lining. A shaped recess holds the medal, ribbon and Prague Castle bar securely.
Expected storage and handling marks appear on the exterior. There is also wear around the corners and some age-related movement around the hinge lining. Nevertheless, the case remains attractive and substantially complete.
The photographs show the principal features expected from an original period set:
The medal’s details appear sharp rather than soft or cast. In addition, the ribbon weave, suspension arrangement and natural oxidation are convincing. The bar also displays the narrow architectural detail expected on an original example.
Based on the photographs, I consider the medal, Prague Castle clasp, ribbon and case consistent with an original assembled period set. As always, an in-hand inspection remains advisable because convincing reproduction Prague Castle bars exist.
The medal commemorated Germany’s annexation of the Sudetenland following the Munich Agreement of September 1938. German forces entered the ceded territories from 1 October 1938.
Several months later, German troops occupied the remaining Czech lands. The Prague Castle clasp therefore expanded the meaning of the original award and documented participation in both stages of the destruction of Czechoslovakia.
This history gives the cased Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar particular relevance within a collection of German occupation medals or European pre-war political history.
Collectors can explore further original awards in the Nordmenn Medals, Badges and Awards collection or browse the complete Nordmenn Militaria shop.
For comparison, Helmut Weitze currently lists comparable uncased medals with the Prague Castle clasp at approximately €185–€220, including this Sudetenland Medal with Prague Castle Bar. The Imperial War Museums also documents the ribbon and Prague Castle clasp as part of this award type.
The medal remains in very good original condition with an attractive dark bronze patina. Raised details show only moderate handling wear, while the reverse inscription remains clear.
Minor fraying appears on the ribbon. In addition, the case displays exterior scuffing and age-related wear around the lining and hinge. These points are visible in the photographs and do not detract significantly from the complete set.
