Germany, Wehrmacht. An Eastern Peoples Merit Decoration, I Class in Gold, by Wächtler & Lange Archive and black machine embroidery

and black machine embroidery

The exceptional performance of normal duty will not alone justify an award of this decoration

) Unnamed specimen

reverse presents horizontal pinback

Ontario for initial training

Germany, Wehrmacht. An Eastern Peoples Merit Decoration, I Class in Gold, by Wächtler & Lange Archive and black machine embroidery(Verdienstauszeichnung fr Ostvlker I. Klasse in Gold). Instituted 14 July 1942. (1942 1945 issue). Constructed of gilded zink, the obverse consisting of an eight pointed radiant starburst, bearing a central raised rosette situated within a circular laurel leaf wreath, the reverse with a barrel hinge and tapering vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch emanating from an oblong plate, unmarked but demonstrating the characteristics of manufacture by