A Triplet From The Battle Of Skagerrak (Jutland From The German Side) [WWI]

Prior to WWI, the German artists/medalists were turning out countless commemorative art medals venerating their Generals, Admirals, and the Kaiser himself. Once WWI started, these artists were able to turn from just creating Personenmedaillen (medals honoring persons) to Kriegspropaganda (war propaganda) and commemorating victorious battles.

One of these battles, the Battle of Skagerrak (German name, while the British called it the Battle of Jutland) was a questionable victory, as while the German fleet did enact more severe damage on the British fleet than they received, the German fleet did have to flee back to the safety of the harbors, causing the German Navy to have to rely more on its Unterseeboots, or U-boats.

Nevertheless, German artists created no less than 14 different designs, spanning different metals and sizes that there are over 50 varieties of commemorative medals honoring this "victorious" battle.

Here is a single design specifically honoring German Admiral Reinhard Scheer, in three different metals in two different sizes. The artist was Hugo Kaufman; this was not his only design for Skagerrak as I will show later.

[Attributions: Zetzman 4123, Frankenhuis 793, Storer 121, BDM VII/495, and Patrick D2.1a through D2.1c :)]



Above: Cast bronze, 93mm (D2.1a)


Above: Cast Iron, 93mm (D2.1b)


Above: Silver, 34mm (D2.1c)

All three are part of my Jutland/Skagerrak collection.

John