Bidspirit auction | Two German and British Historical

Two German and British Historical Medals comprising a Boxed Lusitania Propaganda Medal and an Eastern Front Medal - Two historical medals comprising a British First World War propaganda replica of the German Lusitania medal and a Second World War German Eastern Front medal. The first item is a British propaganda replica of the medal originally designed by Karl Goetz to commemorate the sinking of the RMS Lusitania in 1915. The medal is constructed from sand-cast iron with a dark, bronzed and oxidised finish. The obverse depicts a skeleton at a Cunard Line ticket office under the inscription GESCHAFT UBER ALLES with FAHRKARTEN AUSGABE at the base. The reverse shows the sinking liner under the heading KEINE BANNWARE! with the base text DER GROSSDAMPFER = LUSITANIA = DURCH EIN DEUTSCHES TAUCHBOOT VERSENKT 5 MAI 1915. It is housed in the original cardboard presentation box. The exterior box lid features a printed illustration of the ship and technical details. The interior lid contains a printed label describing the medal as an exact replica produced to illustrate German sentiment. The second item is a German Eastern Front medal, officially designated as the Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42. The circular medal is struck in zinc (Kriegsmetall) with a silvered rim and helmet, and a chemically blackened centre. The obverse features a national eagle clutching a swastika over a laurel branch. The reverse bears the inscription WINTERSCHLACHT IM OSTEN 1941/42 above a crossed sword and laurel branch. The medal is topped with an M35 style helmet and stick grenade suspension. It is complete with its original red ribbon featuring a central white-black-white stripe. A maker mark is present on the suspension ring but is not clearly legible. Lusitania Medal: 55mm diameter.