Germany - Weimar Republic Medal by Karl Goetz "Black Shame" 1920

Karl Goetz Satirical medal, Gilded Bronze 58mm, 65.23g; THE WATCH ON THE RHINE (Die schwarze Wacht am Rhein) Obverse: A French colonial soldier, right. Inscriptions, "Die Wacht am Rhein!!" (The Watch on the Rhine!!) and "Liberte, Égalité, Fraternité" (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity). Dated 1920 Reverse:The Lorelei sits naked and tied to a tree which is in the form of an erect penis; a French helmet is on top. Lorelei`s broken lyre is nearby. The Eye of God watches over from above. Inscription, "Die schwarze Schande" (The Black Shame). K•G in exergue. This medal was Goetz` protest for the arrival of black colonial French troops to occupy the Rhine territory. Most certainly a ploy by the French to humiliate the Germans, Goetz was obviously livid with the action. Here we see his vitriolic response over several `reported` rapes and sexual excesses by these occupying troops. History now shows that these fears were unfounded and reports of rape were more exception than rule.