The Return of Memel Commemorative Medal - Ribbon Bar

THE RETURN OF MEMEL COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL - RIBBON BAR

 The Return of Memel Commemorative Medal (Medaille zur Erinnerung an die Heimkehr des Memellandes; 22 März 1939) was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded during the interwar period, the last in a series of Occupation Medals.

 Germany annexed the Klaipėda Region (Memel Territory) from Lithuania on 22 March 1939 after an ultimatum. On 23 March the occupation of the city and district was carried out by German Army troops. This area of East Prussia, with 160,000 inhabitants, had been turned over to Lithuania in the aftermath of World War I. To commemorate the occupation, the "Memel Medal" was authorized on 1 May 1939.

 The award was presented to all military, political and civil personnel who had taken part in the entry into Memel on 22 March 1939, and to local Nazis who had worked for union with Germany.