100837 | GERMANY & AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. Propaganda zinc Medal.

100837 | GERMANY & AUSTRIA-HUNGARY. Propaganda zinc Medal. Issued 1918. World War I series: The Alliance of Germany and Austria-Hungary (34mm, 14.04 g, 12h). By B. H. Mayer's in Pforzheim.

 

HEIL u SIEG 1914/18, Germany and Austria-Hungary, as female warriors, each wielding sword and flying right over fortifications in background; two coats-of-arms and palm frond below / ZUR / ERINNERUNG / AN DEN / WELTKRIEG / 1914/18 in five lines; all within wreath, with crossed sword and torch at ties. Edge: Plain.

 

Zetzmann – (though numerous issues do utilize this obverse as a reverse type). Choice About Uncircuated. Slate gray surfaces, with some scattered marks and hairlines. Very rare.

 

Following the formation of the German Empire in 1871, Otto von Bismarck sought to preserve peace and create a climate which would allow the fledging empire to grow, mostly worrying about rivals Russia to the east and France to the west. A deal was struck in 1879 with the Austro-Hungarian Empire in that they would support each other in the event that either were to be attacked by Russia. Further, if any other European power were to attack one, the other would practice a policy of benevolent neutrality, limiting the possible number of rivals and ideally serving as a deterrent for the belligerent European power in the first place. This alliance served as the basis for that which would become the Central Powers (later adding the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Bulgaria) during World War I.

 

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