It was instituted on 2 August 1939 and was given to those who designed and built the fortifications on Germany's western borders, known as the Westwall or, in English, the Siegfried Line, between 15 June 1938 to 31 March 1939.

This version of the medal was commonly known as the "Defence Wall Honor Award", to distinguish the decoration from its 1939 counterpart.

Its oval shape featured on the obverse (from bottom to top) a bunker, a crossed sword and shovel, and the German Eagle.

The reverse bore the inscription "Für Arbeit zum Schutze Deutschlands" (For Work in the Defence of Germany).

On 10 October 1944 a second production run was authorized to reward the workers and military personnel strengthening the Siegfried line.