Type Military award Established 14 July, 1942 | Status Obsolete Total awarded Approx. 7,000 | |
 | ||
Eligibility citizens of the Soviet Union under German command;
Germans serving in units manned by Soviet personnel Awarded for bravery (with swords) or merit (without swords) | ||
The Ostvolk Medal (German: Ostvolkmedaille) or Medal for Gallantry and Merit for Members of the Eastern Peoples - (German: Tapferkeits und Verdienst Auszeichnung für Ostvölker) was a military award in Nazi Germany, bestowed to the personnel from the former Soviet Union (Ostvolk in German, literally 'the East people').
Contents
Design
The medal featured an octactinal (eight pointed) star with plant pattern in the centre. The 1st class was 48 mm in diameter, attachable to the cloth by pin and clasp. The 2nd class was 40 mm in diameter and was worn on a 32 mm wide ribbon.
Classes
The award was designed by Elmar Lang and existed in two classes:
There were two versions: with swords, for bravery, and without, for merit.
Ribbons and wearing
According to some sources, special ribbons were issued:
There was also a rare second variant class in gold.
The 1st class was worn on the lower left breast, like the Iron Cross, and the 2nd class was worn only as a ribbon.
Recipients
Germans serving in Ostvolk units could only be awarded the silver variant of the 2nd or 1st Class, provided that they had received the corresponding class of the Iron Cross before.
In December 1943 17 workers from Zhytomyr (including one woman) were awarded with bronze stars for "saving a valuable property from Bolsheviks".