Colonial Medal (German Empire)

Colonial Medal Kolonial-Denkmünze
Awarded by German Empire
Type	Campaign medal
Eligibility	for participation in combat operations in the German Colonies
Statistics
Established	13 June 1912
Related	China Medal (German Empire) South West Africa Medal (German Empire)
ribbon bar of the medal

The Colonial Medal (Kolonial-Denkmünze) was a medal of the German Empire established on 13 June 1912 by Kaiser Wilhelm II The medal and clasps were awarded retroactively for participation in military operations in the German colonies.^[1] Exceptions were participants in the Boxer Rebellion 1900-01, and German South West Africa in the years 1904-08. These operations were eligible for their own unique commemorative medal.

Description

The medal is made of bronze the obverse of which depicts the right-facing bust of Wilhelm II in uniform, with the initials W II. The reverse has oak leaves on the right and a laurel branch on the left. In the center is the imperial crown which sits above the inscription "DEN TAPFEREN STREITERN FÜR DEUTSCHLANDS EHRE" ("The brave warriors for Germany's honor"). The ribbon is white with four thin red lines in the center and black stripes on the edges.

Claps

The medal was awarded with claps which were manufactured of gold plated brass. Claps were mounted on the ribbon of the medal.

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References

Sources

• André Hüsken: Katalog der Orden, Ehrenzeichen und Auszeichnungen des Kurfürstentums Brandenburg, der Markgrafschaften Brandenburg-Ansbach und Brandenburg-Bayreuth, des Königreiches Preußen, der Republik Preußen unter Berücksichtigung des Deutschen Reiches, Band 3, Hamburg 2001, ISBN 3-89757-138-2