Category: WW2 Medals

• Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
• Institution: 27 November 1935 (provision) – 26 March 1936 (actual institution)
• Country: Germany

The Observer Badge of the Luftwaffe was a German award for qualifying service established in 1935 (provisions) and instituted in 1936. It was one of the first set of badges for which Reichsmarchall Göring gave specifications. 

The badge was awarded after completing two months of qualifying service and five operational flights as an observer, or if the recipient was wounded while posted as an observer (before completing the 5 flights). 

It’s not known how many Observer badges were awarded. The shape is oval and slightly convex. An eagle is over-imposed on a wreath of laurel leaves (on the right) and oak leaves (on the left). The material used for the Observer badge were tombac, aluminum, and zinc. Measures can vary slightly according to the manufacturer.

• Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
• Institution: 12 August 1935
• Country: Germany

The Retired Pilot Badge of the Luftwaffe was a German award given to personnel honorably discharged from their flying duties. The badge was instituted on 26 March 1936 as the Flyer’s Commemorative Badge by the Minister of Aviation and the Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. 

The badge was awarded to pilots, observers, air gunners, and paratroopers of the Luftwaffe. It’s estimated that only 800 of these badges were created. They were awarded only before the outbreak of the war. 

The Retired Pilot Badge features an eagle perched on top of a large rock and it surmounted o a wreath of oak leaves. While the wreath was usually polished silver, the eagle had an oxidized look and was darker. Earlier badges were produced in silver and aluminum, with lower quality ones issued as replacements (these are not official, however). 

• Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
• Institution: 12 August 1935
• Country: Germany

The Pilot Badge of the Luftwaffe was a German award instituted in 1935 by Reichsmarchall Hermann Göring. 

The badge can be found made in several different materials; for example, nickel-silver, aluminium, plated allow, lacquered zinc, etc. The versions made before the ear (and in the early stages of it) tend to be of higher quality, while the later Pilot badges are made of alloys and aluminium (the ones made of this material, which was deemed inadequate, are rarer and more valuable). 

The Pilot Badge shows a massive swooping eagle that is clutching a swastika in its talons. Both are superimposed on a wreath made of laurel leaves on the left and oak leaves o the right. 

• Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
• Institution: 1933
• Country: Germany

The Air Crew Badge was a German award and one of the earliest flight-related badges in the country. The badge was used in the infancy of Germany’s air program. It rewarded pilots and crew members of the German Air Sports Association. It’s hard to tell when the badge was implemented, exactly, but it has been in use since 1933.

Because the Luftwaffe was banned by the Versailles treaty, the Association became a cover to the banned German Air Force until April 1st, 1935. That’s when the Luftwaffe gained official sanction.

The Air Crew Badge became the official Pilot-Observer badge of the Luftwaffe on January 19th, 1935 and was soon replaced by a newer version and then removed from circulation.  This makes it one of the most difficult and rarest of all the Luftwaffe badges. 

• Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
• Institution: 3 November 1944
• Country: Germany

The Tank Combat Badge of the Luftwaffe (Or Luftwaffe Panzer Badge, Panzerkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe German) was a World War II German military decoration instituted on 3 November 1944 by Reichsmarshall Goring to honor the panzer troops of the Luftwaffe field divisions (until then, qualified Luftwaffe personnel were awarded the Heer Panzer Badge).

The badge had two designs:

• All Silver: Awarded to tank commanders, gunners, drivers, radiomen, repair crews and their medical personnel.
• Silver with Black Wreath: Awarded to Panzer grenadiers, armored reconnaissance units, and the medical personnel attached to them.

Both badge styles were awarded for three combat engagements on three different days.

• Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
• Institution: 31 March 1942
• Country: Germany

The Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe (Erdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffein German) was a World War II German military decoration instituted on 31 March 1942 by commander-in-chief Hermann Göring and awarded for achievement in ground combat. 

The criteria was the participation in three separate combat operations on separate days. Luftwaffe soldiers who had already been awarded medals or orders of the Heer such as General Assault Badge or the Infantry Assault Badge, were required to exchange their badges for the Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe.

The badge was awarded in four classes based on the number of combat operations:

• 2nd grade (II. Stufe) for 25 eligible operations,
• 3rd grade (III. Stufe) for 50 eligible operations,
• 4th grade (IV. Stufe) for 75 eligible operations,
• 5th grade (V. Stufe) for 100 eligible operations.

• Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
• Institution: 10 January 1941
• Country: Germany

The Anti-Aircraft Flak Battle Badge (Flak-Kampfabzeichen der Luftwaffein German) was a World War II German military decoration instituted on 10 January 1941 by the Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring to commemorate soldiers or servicemen of the Flak Artillery who distinguished themselves in action against enemy aerial or ground attacks. 

• Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
• Institution: 5 November 1936
• Country: Germany

The Luftwaffe Parachutist Badge (Fallschirmschützenabzeichen in German) was a World War II German military decoration instituted on 5 November 1936 and awarded to qualified parachutists of the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS.

The badge was first established by order of Hermann Göring and originally given to Luftwaffe personnel after completion of the required number of six jumps. A recipient had to re-qualify for the badge each year.

An army version was introduced on 1 September 1937, in which the swastika was relocated to the top of the wreath and surmounted by a smaller upright eagle.