BACKGROUND: The German Customs Service can be traced back to 1834 when a Customs Union was formed to allow the separate German States to trade amongst themselves without trade and tariff taxes, while still imposing import trade taxes on other European nations. With the unification of the German States into a single nation in 1871 the Customs Service became a national paramilitary organization, under control of the Reichsfinanzministerium, (National Finance Ministry), in Berlin. The national Customs Service was still responsible for imposing and collecting import trade taxes but was also tasked with border defence duties. In 1936 the Customs Service was reorganized and given further policing responsibilities including the apprehension of individuals attempting to escape from the NSDAP’s yoke. The German Customs service was divided into two separate branches with one branch consisting of the Landzollbeamte, (Land Customs Officials), which was subdivided into the Zollgrenzschutz, (Land Customs Border Guards), and the Wasserzollbeamte, (Water Customs Officials), and the second branch consisting of the remaining Zollbeamte, (Customs Officials). On June 17^TH 1936, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler was appointed to the newly created position of Chef der Deutschen Polizei im Reichsministerium des Innern, (Chief of the German Police in the National Ministry of the Interior), effectively giving him full control of all police agencies within Germany including the Customs service. On February 17^TH 1939 Adolf Hitler instituted the Customs/Border Security long service decoration for award to loyal Customs/Border security personnel for loyal or meritorious service. The award was rendered in only one class and was awarded to Customs/Border security Official’s for four years service and to civilian Customs/Border employees for eight years service.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Die struck alloy construction award with a bronze wash is in the form of a Pattée style cross with a circular centerpiece. The obverse of the award features an embossed national eagle, with out-stretched wings and a canted swastika, to the center encompassed by an opened top, circular acanthus leave wreath. The reverse of the award has embossed Gothic style script in five lines, to the center, "Für treue Dienst im Zollgrenzschutz", (For Loyal Service in the Customs/Border Security). The embossed script to the reverse is also encompassed by an opened top, circular acanthus leave wreath. Both the obverse and reverse arms of the cross feature a smooth, raised, outer border edging with an inner pebbled background field. The ribbon suspension loop and medal ring are both intact. The award has no visible manufacturers markings. The award retains about 95% of its original bronze wash. The award comes complete with a roughly 1" wide, 2 1/4" long, section of original, ribbed, moire cornflower blue ribbon. The award is in overall very good condition with minor age toning to the ribbon. Of Note: This award along with fourteen others was taken directly off of a sales display board by the renown manufacturer Wilhelm Deumer of Lüdenscheid.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $410.00