Blackened silvered metal medal of rectangular form with pin to rear for ribbon; the face with figures in relief of a civilian holding a rife across his body pointing downwards and a helmeted soldier, his hands on the barrel of his rifle which has the butt of its stock is resting on the ground, both facing right, stylised mountains beyond, dated ‘1943’; the reverse plain with maker’s mark ‘HÄUSLER LANGENTHAL’; on original ribbon in Swiss national colours mounted for wear with silvered metal ‘AUSZEICHNUNG’ bar; slight loss of blackening to the raised areas of the face revealing silvered metal below. As a result of her conscription policy and compulsory military training for all 20-year-old males, Switzerland has a powerful citizen army and was able to mobilise 430,000 troops in 1939. This is may be an award for a shooting competition but is more likely to be for attending (or excelling in) the compulsory three-week military refresher training for reservists of this citizen army.
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