Victory Medal
Recipient earned his citizenship to the U.S. from his service in WW1
The WW1 Victory Medal was created in 1919 and presented to members of U.S. Armed Forces who served in World War 1. The metal bars on the ribbon tell which operations the recipient was involved in. The bars on this medal indicate that Axel Madsen served in the Somme and Ypres-Lys offencives.
This medal’s recipient, Axel Christian Madsen, has a very typical immigrant story. He was born April 30, 1896, in Asnæs, Sjælland, Denmark. He came to America alone in early 1916, leaving behind his parents and three siblings. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1918 at the age of 21, served with the 30th Infantry Regiment Division, and was discharged at the end of the war. Like many immigrants, his service earned him his citizenship through the Naturalization Act of May 9, 1918. The act was passed to encourage enlistment and reward immigrants for service in WW1.
Victory Medal
USA
ca. 1921
Copper Alloy, Silk
Gift of Lorraine Isley
1997.006.063.001
Honor Cross
The “Honor Cross of The World War 1914/1918” was established by the President of the German Republic in 1934 to commemorate the distinguished deeds of the German people during World War 1. This was Germany’s first official service medal for soldiers of Imperial Germany who had taken part in the war. In instances where soldiers had since died, it was awarded to their surviving next-of-kin.
