France, Third Republic. A Marne Medal, c.1937

In bronze, engraver marked on the soldier's back on the obverse, measuring 32 mm (w) x 44 mm (h), original ribbon, extremely fine.

Footnote: The Marne Medal was established on August 21, 1937 by Captain Chrissement, founder of the Association des Soldats de la Marne, whose president was Marshal Franchet d’Espérey. It was designed by the sculptor Maxime Real del Sarte (1888-1954). The medal was attributed to veterans of the two battles of the Marne. The first battle ended on September 10, 1914 in a crucial strategic victory with French forces, supported by the British, throwing back the German offensive, recapturing lost ground and ending German plans for a quick and decisive end to the war on the Western Front. The second battle in July and August 1918 was equally significant, the Germans failing to break through French lines, despite throwing forty divisions into the fray. Being held and then pushed back had a serious psychological impact on the Germans who began to lose the belief that they could win the war.