4th Class Social Welfare Medal

German WWII > Awards and Medals > Political and Civil > Red Cross/Social Welfare

Ehrenzeichen für deutsche Volkspflege 4. Stufe Medaille. Instituted May 1, 1939, the Social Welfare Decoration was awarded for merits in the field of the people’s welfare, the winter relief, the care of the sick and wounded in peace and war, the rescue, the maintenance of German nationality and the care of German national comrades abroad. It is constructed of a die struck nickel-silver base that has been silver washed and finished in a protective lacquer coating. The round shaped obverse features the red cross/social welfare emblem which consists of an early closed winged national eagle, clutching a wreathed swastika in its talons, above a square (Greek Style) pebbled cross that lies on a smooth background and has a thin embossed outer border. The reverse depicts, in a gothic style script: “Medaille für Deutsche Volkspflege”, (Medal for German Social Welfare) on that same smooth backing and outer border. The top has a soldered-on loop and ring. Accompanying the award is 9 3/8 inches of red and white rayon ribbon. The award measures 1 ½ inches in diameter.