The object I chose for this assignment was a Nazi war medal that my dad has had since 1997, and in our garage since 2004. This medal is about four inches long, not including the ring at the top, and about a fourth of an inch thick. I would say it has a diameter of about 3 inches and an oval shape. This medal is made out of bronzed brass and has the german words “FÜR ARBEIT ZUM SCHUTZE DEUTSCH LANDS” inscribed on the back of it. On the front side of it towards its bottom, is a depiction of a World War ll bunker along with a cross sword and shovel making an ‘x’ shape above it. Above that, is a depiction of a German eagle looking to its right with its wings stretched out, standing on top of a small circle with a leaf border and a swastika in the middle. The leaf design that is featured on the border of the small circle I mentioned, mirrors the border of the entire front and back of the medal. At the very top of the medal is a small hole with a bigger ring attached to it. The ring is circular and about one inch in diameter. This ring is also asymmetrical and slightly bent. This ring also has a spot where the bronzing on the brass chipped off revealing a dark gray color underneath the finish.
According to valleyviewcoinsandcollectables.com, these medals are known as West Wall Medals and were considered a military decoration of Nazi Germany. These medals were awarded to specific Nazis in World War ll hence the German inscription on the back translating to “FOR WORK ON THE DEFENSES OF GERMANY”. When interviewing my dad, I learned that he was left this medal when his grandmother, Augustus DelRiccio (AKA Nanny), passed away. He was always fascinated with this medal ever since he was a young boy. He felt as if seeing this medal really made the tragic history of World War ll real to him. When he would visit Nanny and ask her about it, she would tell him about how both of her brothers died in World War ll fighting the Nazis. But before Herman DelRiccio, one of the two brothers, died he killed a Nazi soldier, ripped this medal off of his corpse, and sent it back home to her and the rest of the family. According to Nanny, this is why the ring at the top of the medal is worn down and bent. She told him that the reason he sent this back was to show that he was alive and doing what he set out to do in war. She told him that she kept the medal inside her jewelry box because she believed that leaving it out would release some type of Nazi curse into the air. This was passed on to my dad instead of Nanny’s children, my grandma Diana and my great uncle John, because they were mostly just disturbed by the story whereas my father really appreciated the history behind this object and was able to put himself in the shoes of Herman to really understand its significance without being scared away. I think Nanny saw that ability to appreciate the story behind objects and decided that it’d be best to stay with him. To this day my dad keeps that medal in our garage with a cross on top of it just in case the object is really cursed.
Works Cited-
“WWII German West Wall Medal.” Www.valley view coins and collectibles.com, http://www.valleyviewcoinsandcollectibles.com/wwii-german-west-wall-medal-p/715.htm.
Carta, Raymond. Interview. 2023
The Materials of History, Thought, and Art 
Hi
As a student with a concentration in history, I very much enjoyed your post. I really thought it was interesting when you added in your post “ripped this medal off of his corpse…According to Nanny, this is why the ring at the top of the medal is worn down and bent”. I found it very interesting that you not only have significant information about the object but also how it was manipulated over time. Great work!
Hey Maria! I really enjoyed reading about your object! I remember you telling me a bit about it during class, but hearing the in depth history behind it is really awesome! I also enjoyed your description of the object, using words like, “asymmetrical and slightly bent,” as well as when you were describing the worn out ring and how the bronzing was, “chipped off,” to reveal the, “dark gray color,” beneath it. I also enjoyed how you talked about your family’s different perspectives of the item, like your dad being fascinated while your grandparents were creeped out. This really ties in with the book we read in class and how depending on who the item is with the item has a different meaning. But overall, great job!