With the beginning of the First World War, however, this changed dramatically. While dance events were still held during the first euphoria of the war, they quickly became fewer and fewer as time went on, until it was no longer considered seemly to hold balls. But this did not prevent some merchants with full warehouses from still placing advertisements for Cotillon-medals in magazines during the war.

After 1918, German society had changed. The monarchy and the nobility had been abolished. Germany had to survive an attempted revolution, was economically devastated, and had to deal with great famines. Dances were out of the question. In the following years, the economy slowly recovered, and balls were again celebrated. Albeit a little different, for tastes had changed over time. Cotillon-medals, which were formerly used during various Cotillon-tours, were now considered antiquated.

After the First world War, the few remaining Cotillon-medal manufacturers found a new market in dance schools. But the number of potential buyers was much smaller than at the dance events of the previous decades. This was reflected in the range of products offered by the last remaining Cotillon-medal manufacturers.