German medal

meganwatkin · May 27, 2013

My friend found this, any idea what it was given for? The date on the back says 1904.

Back-of-the-boat · May 27, 2013

The translation comes up as.....FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICES.....don't have an idea as to how it was received from a company ,military. But it seems if it was military it would have been more like our medals are (Medal and ribbon style) so I would lean more towards a retirement type of medal possibly on a necklace.

ewymore · May 27, 2013

I think it may be a German Military discharge Medal. I was able to find on from WWII and there are some resemblances, but I may be completely wrong though.

http://www.snyderstreasures.com/eBay/Images/2012/072212/DSCN0038.JPG

meganwatkin · May 28, 2013

Thank you, helps a lot.

yaxthri · May 29, 2013

The correct translation is "for outstanding performance".
I think it's either a company discharge medal (but could be school or sports related, too) but not an official, state medal, rather a private commission.
The oak and laurel wreath could is a clue I think strengthens my theory of a private commission, the medal used as a blank for different possible purposes and clients, only the date was struck on the back for this one.

I don't think it's military because there should be at least the word "dienst" (stands for military and/or public, service in Germany) as is on the rather unfortunate (and in my opinion, not even slightly similar) SS-medal posted and a unit or veteran's association would surely be noted...