History

The German West Wall Medal was instituted on August 2, 1939, in recognition of the planning and construction of Germany’s defensive fortifications, particularly the Siegfried Line.

In August and September of 1944, around 200,000 workers were sent to the Siegfried Line to strengthen and renovate the fortification against the advancing Allied forces. On October 10th, 1944, the Medal was issued a second time and those who had received the previous Medal were awarded a bar to denote the second award. There is speculation about the design of this bar, and whether it was ever produced.

The reverse inscription translates to, "For Work on the Defences of Germany."