History

The Commemorative Medal of 1 October 1938 was founded on October 1st, 1938, to commemorate the German occupation of Czechoslovakia. On this date, Germany annexed more than a third of the country and by March 14th, 1939, Germany had completed the total annexation of the country. Bohemia and Moravia were occupied and declared German “Protectorates.”

The Medal was originally conferred upon all participants of the initial occupation of Czechoslovakia, including members of the Sudeten Nazi Party who worked for the annexation and who had been wounded, lost property, or faced imprisonment and other hardships during the political struggle.

On May 1st, 1939, the Medal was expanded to also award individuals who had been useful in securing the annexation of Bohemia and Moravia as a German "Protectorate". If these individuals had already been awarded the medal, they were given a "Prague Clasp" to wear on the medal's ribbon. The clasp features an image of Prague Castle.