SMGL-3021 deutsche kampfspiele nürnberg 1934 Medallion

This is a clay “biscuit” medallion. A visually stunning award. An absolutely mint condition example with a case that has light wear. This is a clay “biscuit” medallion. A visually stunning award.  Many of these cases, if you can find them, have the lid separated from the base because the hinge is paper and not metal. This one, luckily, is still intact and functional. Tough to upgrade unless you find a mint case!

“German Struggle Games” table medal produced by the Hutschenreuther company. The medal is made of porcelain with gold gilt highlights, and was commissioned by the town of Nürnberg, to be issued to participants of the sports events. The inner lid lining has printed ‘Gegeben von der Stadt Nürnberg’ (Given by the city of Nürnberg). The reverse features the Bavarian Lion logo of the Hutschenreuther company. Often the case lid has separated from the base due to being held on by a flimsy leatherette/paper hinge. This example is still very firmly attached.

The Deutsche Kampfspiele were a national multi-sport event established in 1922 by the Deutscher Reichsausschuss für Leibesübungen under Carl Diem, in response to Germany’s denial to be allowed to participate in the recent Olympic events. The events (under this name) lasted from 1922 to 1934. According to Diem the games should promote “German art, German song and German Volksgemeinschaft” (people’s community). After 1934, and with the recent rise of the NSDAP to power, the games organization and control shifted to the SA, who re-branded the games the NS-Kampspiele under order of Adolf Hitler in 1936, and it became a paramilitary sporting event. In addition to the NSDAP, the SA, SS, NSKK and HJ also participated in the predominantly military sports competitions, such as hand grenade targets, 30-meter swimming in a drizzle suit with a pack or 15-kilometer baggage in closed formations Wehrmacht and the police.

The NS-Kampspiele games lasted from 1937-38, and ended with the outbreak of the war in 1939.