The Sniper’s Badge

A Sniper's Badge 1st Class (gold cord).

Time Period: Nazi Germany (World War II)
Institution: 20 August 1944
Country: Germany

The Sniper’s Badge (Scharfschützenabzeichen in German) was a war badge awarded to Waffen SS and Wehrmacht Heer soldiers during World War II.

It was established on August 20, 1944. Initially, only members serving in the German Army and the Waffen-SS were eligible for this recognition. However, later, by directive of the High Command, it was extended to snipers from other branches of the armed services.

The Sniper’s badge came in three classes or grades:

Third Class (without cord), awarded for achieving 20 enemy kills.
Second Class (with a silver cord), granted for 40 enemy kills.
First Class (with a gold cord), conferred for achieving 60 enemy kills.

The tally of enemy kills commenced from September 1, 1944. Each enemy kill needed to be corroborated by witnesses and reported to the unit for validation, and close-quarter kills were not included in this count.

The Sniper's Badge Design

Crafted from greenish-gray cloth and embroidered into an oval shape, the Sniper’s Badge depicted a black eagle’s head facing left, adorned with white plumage, ochre yellow eyes, and a closed beak. Surrounding the eagle’s body were three oak leaves and a left-mounted acorn.

The ribbon’s edges were meticulously sewn, and the badge’s different classes were identified by a circularly stitched cord in either silver (for 2nd class) or gold (for 1st class).

The badge was worn on the right sleeve of the uniform.

Famous Recipients of The Sniper's Badge

Matthäus Hetzenauer and Bruno Sutkus are two notable recipients of the Sniper’s Badge, both achieving the highest rank, signified by the gold cord.

Matthäus Hetzenauer, an Austrian, distinguished himself as one of the most successful snipers of World War II. He served in the 3rd Mountain Division of the Wehrmacht and earned his Sniper’s Badge in the highest class for his exceptional marksmanship skills. Hetzenauer was credited with an impressive tally of confirmed kills, estimated to be around 345 enemy soldiers, primarily on the Eastern Front. His precise shooting and ability to operate effectively in the challenging terrain of the mountains earned him widespread recognition and respect among his comrades.
Bruno Sutkus, a German soldier, also earned the Sniper’s Badge in the gold class for his outstanding achievements as a sniper. Serving in various units of the German Army, including the 24th Panzer Division, Sutkus demonstrated exceptional skill and bravery in combat. He is reported to have accumulated a high number of confirmed kills, though exact figures vary. Sutkus’ proficiency in marksmanship and his contributions to the German war effort earned him the highest accolades, including the prestigious Sniper’s Badge in gold.

More Army/Waffen-SS War Badges

The Army/Waffen-SS war badges were military decorations awarded by Nazi Germany to members of the Army (Heer) and the Waffen-SS. Explore the complete collection below: