Wilhelm Hejda. 1916.
KRIEGSPFERD (Warhorse). Struck(?) zinc, 62.48 x 89.52 mm, 152.4 g. Vorzüglich+ (extremely fine+), without corrosion "zinc-disease" as often seen on zinc medals.
Obverse: Two harnessed horses to left, in foreground one shies in alarm; beside, the second on its back kicking; behind both violent shell-burst hurls shrapnel and stones in all directions; inscription with date, title, artist's signature in continuous band in exergue: 1916APRIL𐅭KREIGSPFERD𐅭WILHHEJDA; upper right corner square enclosing interlocked letters KKB. Reverse: within pearled inner border six-lined inscription ROTES KREUZ / KRIEGS- / HILFSBÜRO / KRIEGS- / FÜRSORGEAMT / 1914 - 1916 (Red Cross; War Assistance Office; War Welfare Office); ligatured PU(?) lower right.
Cf: Schulman. 1917. La Guerre Européenne, Catalogue LXVII, p. 87: 753.
Cf: Frankenhuis, M. 1919(?). Catalogue of Medals - Medalets and Plaques Relative to the World War 1914 - 1919, p. 49: 355.
Cf: Die Medaille der Ostmark. 1938. Wiener Bund für Medaillenkunst, p. 16, no. 16; pl. 8.
Cf: Klose, Dietrich O. A. 2016. Europas Verderben 1914 1918: Deutsche und österreichische Medaillen auf den Ersten Weltkrieg, p 165: 11.36.One of a series of donation plaquettes for the three relief organizations, all with the same pattern on reverse but with different obverses. Among the few medallic representations (cf: Ludwig Gies) of the hazardous plight of horses - the main form of transport - in all armies of the time.
