Germany (Third Reich): Regimental medal 'In Memoriam' of the 64th Motorcycle Reconnaissance Battalion 14th Panzer Division. Circa 1943

Metal: White metal (silvered zinc)

Designer: Richard Klein, with sculptor's initials 'RK' in obverse field

Maker: Unmarked, but known to be one of two types of 14 Panzer Division regimental 'Battalion' medals (the other for 40th Panzer Bn) struck by 'Deschler & Sohn' . The same maker is also known to have made regimental medals for at least one battalion of the 4th Panzer Division

Dimension: 50mm

Weight: 44g

Obverse: A German 'Heer' soldier wearing a 'Stalhelm' helmet facing left, With legend above: 'Kradschützenbataillon 64', Below the legend: '14. Panzerdiv;

Reverse: In centre a depiction of the German Cross, surrounded by names of the principal locations where the unit served in Russia following the launch of Operation Barbarossa in 1941, and concluding with the destruction of the battalion and entire division at Stalingrad in February 1943. The place names being; 'Samara-Charkow-Nowotscherkask-Stalingrad

The 14th Panzer Division was formed in August 1940 from 4. Infanterie-Division. It was transferred to Hungary in March 1941 for the Balkans campaign and returned to Germany after that campaign. It took part in the invasion of the Soviet Union 'Operation Barbarossa' and fought on the southern sector until January 1943, when the division and all its constituent units was destroyed at Stalingrad. The 14 Panzer Division It was reformed in Brittany, France, in April 1943 and was sent to the southern sector of the Eastern front in October 1943, where it remained until July 1944, when it was withdrawn for refitting. It was transferred from the Ukraine to Kurland in August and it surrendered there to the Red Army in April 1945

Presumably the medal was a regimental medal issued 'In Memoriam' to the next of kin of the fallen of the 64th Motorcycle Reconnaissance Battalion 14th Panzer Division, that served and died in Russia 1941-43

An attractive and poignant regimental memorial medal for the Eastern Front 'Panzer War', in memory of the 64th Motorcycle Reconnaissance Battalion 14th Panzer Division. destroyed at Stalingrad

A scarce seen Panzer Battalion medal

Condition: VF

Code: 23858