- Memel Medal
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The Return of Memel Commemorative Medal
Die Medaille zur Erinnerung an die Heimkehr des Memellandes 22. März 1939
The medal's obverse (left) and reverse (right).Awarded by Nazi Germany Type Chest order Eligibility Military personnel, others Awarded for Awarded to all German military personnel and other officials who participated and contributed to the annexation of the Klaipėda Region (Memel Territory) Campaign 1939 German ultimatum to Lithuania Statistics Established May 1, 1939 First awarded May 1, 1939 Last awarded December 1940 Total awarded 31,322 The Return of Memel Commemorative Medal (Die Medaille zur Erinnerung an die Heimkerhr des Memllandes 22. März 1939) was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded in the interwar period, and the last of the series of Occupation Medals.
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Description
In the last bloodless action, Germany annexed the Klaipėda Region (Memel Territory) from Lithuania on March 22, 1939 after an oral ultimatum. On March 23 a peaceful occupation of the city and district was carried out by German troops who debarked by ship. This area of East Prussia, with 160,000 inhabitants, had been turned over to Lithuania in the aftermath of World War I following the Klaipėda Revolt and Klaipėda Convention of 1924. To commemorate the occupation the "Memel Medal" was authorized on May 1, 1939. It was awarded until December 1, 1940. In all 31,322 medals were awarded.
Design
The medal was designed by Professor Richard Klein. While the obverse was the exactly the same as the previous two medals, the reverse read "Zur Erinnerung an die Heimkerhr des Memellandes 22. März 1939" (to commemorate the return of the Memelland on March 22, 1939), surrounded by an oak leave wreath instead of the Nazi Party slogan. The award was presented to all military, political and civil personnel who had distinguished themselves in actions related to the annexation of the district to Germany.
The medal was die struck with a bronzed finish and worn on the left tunic pocket suspended from a white ribbon with a green strip in the middle and two red strips on each side, the historic colors of Lithuania.
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