GOETZ: K-561 RETURN OF DANZIG TO THE REICH

cacheman · February 25, 2005 7:50AM

K-561 RETURN OF DANZIG TO THE REICH, 1939, Cast Ae, 102.9mm, Wt. 252.7g, incuse edge punch, UNC, RRR

Hitler’s demand for Danzig was the chief cause for World War II. This city became a member of the Hanseatic League in the thirteenth century and after an eventful change in ownerships, belonged to Prussia from 1814-1919. After World War I it was made a Free City under supervision of the League of Nations. It was annexed to Germany on September 1, 1939 and lost to Russia in 1945.

Obverse: Ship with full sails above City seal with the inscription ”Home-coming of the Hanseatic city of Danzig September 1, 1939.”

Reverse: German soldier rescues personified Danzig with swastika left and City seal right. Inscription reads “Liberated from the disgrace of Versailles.”

An extremely rare piece of history.

elverno · February 25, 2005 7:54AM

A great piece of history, thanks for sharing it with us!

AuldFartte · February 25, 2005 7:55AM

Goetz even does awesome ships

That is a real treasure, Cacheman !!!

cacheman · February 25, 2005 8:01AM

...and almost the size of a cd!

Darkhorse · February 25, 2005 8:15AM

Apparently the name Danzig isn't PC anymore. I forget its proper Polish name though.

elverno · February 25, 2005 8:22AM

Gdansk isn't it?

cacheman · February 25, 2005 8:30AM

Yes, Gdańsk...

Askari · February 25, 2005 8:40AM

A cool piece of history ... and another rarity!! Congrats!!

oldshep · February 25, 2005 9:56AM

Wow.
Shep

CoinAddict · February 25, 2005 11:30AM

Cool medal with a great history lesson.

PuddlePirate · February 25, 2005 1:57PM

Another cool peice of history. Neat medal, keep them coming I'm fascinated by them

sumnom · February 25, 2005 5:31PM

That is a powerful one. Thanks for the image.

1jester · February 26, 2005 11:48PM

Yes, a rare piece, and interesting as well. I guess some people were proud of starting WWII.

farthing · February 27, 2005 12:59AM

Makarovii · February 27, 2005 2:16PM

This is the first Goetz you've posted that he has shown any good will toward the Nazis, others that mention the Nazis at all were of a negative image. Have you any others showing the Nazis in a good light?

cacheman · February 27, 2005 2:56PM

nope

wybrit · February 27, 2005 10:19PM

This is another interesting bit of history. Thanks.

Askari · February 28, 2005 3:26AM

<< <i>This is the first Goetz you've posted that he has shown any good will toward the Nazis, others that mention the Nazis at all were of a negative image. Have you any others showing the Nazis in a good light? >>

Keep in mind that this piece was probably commissioned by the Nazis and Goetz had been in trouble with them ever since the satirical anti-Nazi Beer Hall Putsch medal. Moreover, Goetz was a pro-German nationalist, even if not pro-National Socialist, and reclaiming Danzig and closing the artificial division of Germany with the "Danzig Corridor" by the Versailles Treaty was as popular in Germany as was the reclamation of the Saarland and Ruhr from the French. If Hitler had simply "closed the Corridor", it's unlikely that the Western Allies would have done any more than they had with Czechoslovakia. This history of France and the other Western nations not living up to their alliance treaties has a legacy in today's preference by the East European nations to look more to the US than to France and Germany for safeguards to their national security. Wars may or may not "change things," but they sure do show you who your friends are.

GOETZ: K-561 RETURN OF DANZIG TO THE REICH

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