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Tag: Nazi Germany

The High Seas Fleet Badge

The High Seas Fleet Badge is a Military Service Badge (Naval War / Kriegsmarine) from the Third Reich, Germany, Second World War.

The High Seas Fleet Badge (Das Flottenkriegsabzeichen in German) is a war badge awarded to Kriegsmarine soldiers during World War II. It was instituted in April 1941 and given for service to the crews of the High Seas Fleet – mainly of battleships and cruisers but also the ships that supported them operationally and for which there was no other award available.

In order to qualify for the badge, a person had to show active duty on 1 or more 12 week cruises, wounds or sinking in action, as well as proof of distinction and good conduct. The award could be given retroactively for actions against the British fleet. The number of required weeks could be reduced if the person met one of these conditions:

  • The recipient was wounded or killed during the voyage.
  • For outstanding achievements in an engagement.
  • If the cruise was successful.
  • If an individual’s ship was sunk in action.
  • For participation in “Rawalpindi” and “Jan Mayen”.
  • For all crew members of the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau in view of the operational effectiveness of the ships.
  • To every sailor who was present on the Tirpitz when it was bombed and sunk by the British R.A.F. on November 12, 1944.

The High Seas Fleet Badge Design

The design of the badge is set over a battleship and surrounded by an oval of oak leaves. 

More Naval War Badges

The Naval War Badges (Kriegsmarine) badges were awarded to sailors, officers, and personnel of the Kriegsmarine who demonstrated exceptional skill, bravery, and dedication in naval warfare. Explore the complete collection below:

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The Balloon Observer’s Badge

The Balloon Observer’s Badge is a Military Service Badge (Army/Waffen-SS) from the Third Reich, Germany, Second World War.

The The Balloon Observer’s Badge (Ballonbeobachterabzeichen in German) is a war badge awarded to officers and men who risked their lives flying 300–500 ft above the ground in a gas balloons. These balloons were easy targets for Allied pilots.

Due to the late introduction of this badge, only a very small number were awarded. It existed in three grades, awarded on a point-basis for different conditions such as transportation or control of heavy weaponry and artillery:

  • Bronze: 20 Points awarded.
  • Silver: 45 Points awarded.
  • Gold: 75 Points awarded.

The Balloon Observer’s Badge Design

The badge was designed by Elmar Lang, although it was never put into production. Lang’s claim to having the prototype design has shed doubt about the originality of badges appearing on the collector’s market.

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:

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The Anti-Partisan Guerrilla Warfare Badge

The Anti-Partisan Guerrilla Warfare Badge is a Military Service Badge (Army/Waffen-SS) from the Third Reich, Germany, Second World War.

The Anti-Partisan Guerrilla Warfare Badge (Bandenkampfabzeichen in German) is a war badge awarded to Heer, Luftwaffe, and Waffen-SS personnel during World War II. It was instituted on 30 January 1944 and referred to as “Bandenkampf-Abzeichen”, because Heinrich Himmler decided the term Banden was better than the term “partisans” – as to not give credence to the guerrillas that were active in almost Germany-occupied countries during WW2.

While many of these resistance movements were initially small and disorganized, a lot coalesced into larger, more powerful bands of fighters. For example, in Greece, Russia and the Yugoslavian states, the partisans had become large enough to require increasing German manpower and resources.

The Anti-Partisan Guerrilla Warfare Badge was created to recognize the soldiers of the Axis that were involved in these behind-the-lines battles. There were three grades for this badge:

  • Bronze: For 20 days in combat.
  • Silver: For 50 days in combat. And
  • Gold: For 100 days in combat. 

For the Luftwaffe, the criteria was based on sorties instead of days in action. 

The Anti-Partisan Guerrilla Warfare Badge Design

The design of the badge is a wreath with a sword placed vertically in the center. The handle has a sun wheel swastika, representing the Nordic and auxiliary forces. The sword plunges into a Hydra, or multi-headed sea serpent representing the Partisans.

The Hydra was a mythical Greek creature, considered almost impossible to destroy because its heads would grow again after being cut off – alluding to the ever-growing presence of Partisan activities.

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:

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The General Assault Badge

The General Assault Badge is a Military Service Badge (Army/Waffen-SS) from the Third Reich, Germany, Second World War.

The General Assault Badge (or Allgemeines Sturmabzeichen in German) is a war badge instituted on 1 June 1940 and awarded to personnel of the German Army, Waffen-SS and Ordnungspolizei that were neither in unmotorized rifle, Gebirgsjäger or tank units. The badge was given to engineers, motorized infantry and troops who had supported infantry and armor units in combat. Artillery, anti-tank (PaK) and anti-aircraft (Flak) units and some medics were also included. 

The General Assault Badge only existed in a silver class and was awarded to persons participating in:

  • Three infantry assaults;
  • In the first line;
  • Breaking through with weapon at hands;
  • On three different days after 1 January 1940; 
  • Not being eligible for the Infantry Assault Badge or Panzer Badge. 

The General Assault Badge Design

The badge features an eagle clutching a swastika. The design is set over a simple crossed bayonet and grenade and surrounded by an oval of oak leaves. 

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:

See all war badges >

The Infantry Assault Badge

The Infantry Assault Badge is a Military Service Badge (Army/Waffen-SS) from the Third Reich, Germany, Second World War.

The Infantry Assault Badge (Infanterie Sturmabzeichen in German) is a war badge awarded to Waffen SS and Wehrmacht Heer soldiers during World War II. It was instituted on December 20, 1939 and could be awarded to members of non-motorized Infantry units and units of the Gebirgsjäger that had participated in Infantry assaults (as long as they had spent least three days of battle in the front line January 1, 1940).

The Infantry Assault Badge was awarded in two classes:

  • Silver: Instituted on December 20, 1939, it was awarded to infantry soldiers who had taken part in three or more infantry assaults, counter-attacks, armed reconnaissance operations, hand-to-hand combat in an assault position, or in the restitution of combat positions.
  • Bronze: Instituted on June 1, 1940, it was awarded to motorized Panzer troops who had taken part in three or more motorized infantry assaults, motorized infantry counter-attacks, motorized armed reconnaissance operations, hand-to-hand combat in motorized assault positions, or in the restitution of a motorized combat position.

The Infantry Assault Badge Design

Designed by C. E. Junker of Berlin, the badge is oval in shape and has four oak leaves on each side. On the top there is an eagle standing on a swastika. The front shows a rifle placed across the badge.

The reverse is plain and has a pin attachment.

A de-nazified version of this decorations exists. It’s also available in Silver and Bronze but without the eagle and the Swastika.

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:

See all war badges >

The Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross

The Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded during World War II created by Adolf Hitler.

The Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross (or Kriegsverdienstkreuz in German) was a decoration of Nazi Germany awarded to military personnel and civilians during the Second World War. It was created by Adolf Hitler in October 1939 as a successor to the non-combatant Iron Cross which was used in earlier wars.

The award had four variants: with swords given to soldiers for exceptional service “not in direct connection with combat”, without swords given to civilians for meritorious service in “furtherance of the war effort”, the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross, and the rare Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross in Gold. 

The Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross Design

The medal consists of a silver Maltese Cross. The obverse has pebbled arms, with a central wreathed mobile swastika and crossed swords piercing the centrepiece. The reverse has a block hinge and a banjo-style pinback. The War Merit Cross measures 48.51 mm (w) x 48.48 mm (h) and weighs 17.6 grams.

Ribbon

The ribbon of the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross was in red-white-black-white-red (the colors being reversed from the ribbon of the World War II version of the Iron Cross). 

Order of Wear

The Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross was a neck decoration and worn the same way as the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross.

Medal Variations

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The Knight’s Cross Of The War Merit Cross In Gold

The Knight’s Cross Of The War Merit Cross In Gold is a rare Third Reich variation of the War Merit Cross suggested by Albert Speer in 1944.

The Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross in Gold (or Ritterkreuz des Kriegsverdienstkreuzes in Gold in German) was a decoration of Nazi Germany and a variation of the War Merit Cross (Kriegsverdienstkreuz). The medal can be dated back to 7 July 1944 when Albert Speer suggested the need for a superior grade of the award. The goal was to recognize exceptional non-combatant contributions to the war effort in Germany. 

The medal was officially instituted on 13 October 1944. Only 21 Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross in Gold are known to have been awarded (with several dozen having been produced but not given).

The award had four variants: with swords given to soldiers for exceptional service “not in direct connection with combat”, without swords given to civilians for meritorious service in “furtherance of the war effort”, the Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross, and the rare Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross in Gold. 

Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross in Gold Design

The medal consists of a gilded silver Maltese Cross. The obverse has pebbled arms, with a central wreathed mobile swastika and crossed swords piercing the centerpiece. The reverse has a block hinge and a banjo-style pinback. The cross measures 48.51 mm (w) x 48.48 mm (h) and weighs 17.6 grams.

Ribbon

The ribbon of the Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross in Gold was red-white-black-white-red (the colors being reversed from the ribbon of the World War II version of the Iron Cross). 

Order of Wear

Knight’s Cross of the War Merit Cross in Gold was a neck decoration and worn the same way as the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross.

Medal Variations

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The German Social Welfare Decoration

The Social Welfare Decoration was created by Adolf Hitler as a civil award for services in the social sector.

The Social Welfare Decoration (or “Ehrenzeichen für deutsche Volkspflege” in German) was created by Adolf Hitler as a civil award for services in the social sector on 1 May 1939.

The decoration was issued in three classes and was awarded for a wide variety of service to the German statsuch as Winterhilfswerk, National Socialist People’s Welfare, medical and rescue work, or care of foreign and ethnic Germans.

The medal was a replacement for the German Red Cross Decoration. The main requirement for the award was that the service rendered should be to the benefit of the civil population. Reinhard Heydrich was awarded the decoration for his running of the Gestapo in the 1930s and for providing “security” to the German people. The infamous Doctor Josef Mengele was also awarded the decoration in 1941, for providing medical services to wounded soldiers and civilians alike on the battlefields of the Eastern Front.

It was conferred in four classes consisting of a white-enameled gold Balkenkreuz with Reich eagle and swastika. A “Medal of Social Welfare” was also issued for lesser degrees of service, not warranting the higher presentation of a class award.

The Pilot / Observer Badge of the Luftwaffe

The Pilot/Observer Badge (or Flugzeugführer- und Beobachterabzeichen in German) was a WW2 German decoration instituted by Hermann Göring.

The Pilot/Observer Badge (or Flugzeugführer- und Beobachterabzeichen in German) was a World War II German military decoration instituted on 26 March 1936 by the Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe Hermann Göring and awarded to Luftwaffe service personnel who had already been awarded the Pilot’s Badge and Observer Badge.

It was  It was worn on the lower part of the left breast pocket of the service tunic, underneath the Iron Cross 1st Class if awarded. It was to replace the older 1933 Aircrew Badge.

The Pilot/Observer Badge Design

The badge was originally manufactured in bronze, and later zinc. The badge can be distinguished from the Pilot’s Badge by the gold wreath; the Pilot’s Badge had a silver wreath.

There was also a cloth version of the badge which used embroidered bullion for the officer’s version and cotton for the NCO’s version. The presentation case was dark blue, with a blue satin top liner and a blue velvet bottom liner on the inside.

There is an exclusive variant of the Pilot/Observer Badge in Gold with Diamonds (or Gemeinsame Flugzeugführer- und Beobachterabzeichen in Gold mit Brillanten in German). It was bestowed by Göring to honour exceptional achievement and on rare occasions as an honorary award. The first recipients were General Walther Wever, Chief of the Luftwaffe General Staff and General der Flieger Erhard Milch, State Secretary of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium on 11 November 1935.

More Luftwaffe War Badges

Awarded to members of the German Luftwaffe for their achievements and contributions to air warfare, the Luftwaffe War Badges symbolized excellence, courage, and skill in aerial combat and support roles. Explore the complete collection below:

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The Panzer Badge or Tank Battle Badge (Nazi Germany)

The Panzer Badge (or Panzerkampfabzeichen) was a World War II military decoration of Nazi Germany awarded to troops in armored divisions. 

The Panzer Badge (or Panzerkampfabzeichen in German) was a World War II military decoration of Nazi Germany awarded to troops in armored divisions.

If you know a thing or two about World War II, you might be aware that the German Panzers played one of the major roles, if not the most important one. Led by intrepid commanders such as Erich Von Manstein, Heinz Guderian, Erwin Rommel, and many more, the Panzers broke the front lines with speed, power and destruction following their paths. But the men who led the Panzers through the Russian Steppe or Northern France were the real “Heroes.”

To recognize the achievements of some of these Panzer crews, the OKW (OberKommando Wehrmacht, the German ground army HQ) decided to create a medal for these men. It was first awarded during World War I but was long forgotten since the Germans saw little action during the end of the war.

During the interwar period, a badge was issued for the veterans of the Condor Legion who participated in the Spanish Civil War. But as World War II was starting, the tank crews and their beloved tactics needed something, something to recognize their “Blitz” through the enemy lines.

Famous Recipients of The Panzer Badge

The most decorated generals of the Wehrmacht never got their grasp on this badge, even if their achievements were enormous. No, this badge was meant for the crewmen, those who gave their life for their country. Some of them never saw the end of the war, but some others did.

Otto Carius, per example, is one of the most decorated Panzer ace, having destroyed more than 150 enemy tanks, and most surprinsigly, a flying enemy plane. This particular enemy plane was “annoying” the gunner of the tank, Heinz Kramer, shooting its armor with its machine gun. As the sound of bullets hitting the armor was annoying more and more Mr Kramer, he asked permission to shoot down the plane, and after a first missed shot, shot down the plane. Probably the best tank shot ever. Carius lived until 2015 in Germany and was the last Panzer ace alive.

The most famous Panzer ace, Michael Wittmann, was also awarded with the highest class of the Badge. He was known to have destroyed at least 150+ tanks and more than 130 enemy canons (of any caliber). Unfortunately for him, he ultimately died in Normandy during Operation Overlord in his beloved Tiger. Nonetheless, his legend grew after the war when all of his achievements were discovered.

These folks are some of the most famous recipients of the Panzer Badge, but it would be wrong to forget about the 34,000 others that got the Badge in the different classes with around 22,000 getting the silver one.

There was definitely a lot of recipients during World War II but what is somehow “strange”, is that the Badge is still being given to members of Germany’s land Army, the Heer. If you are a badge “fanatic”, you can try to get one from the Internet but beware of forgeries, as some of them look very close to the original one.

The Panzer Badge Design

The obverse of the Panzer Badge shows a border of oak leaves with a tie at the base and a Panzerkampfwagen IV superimposed in the centre on grassy ground, with its left tank track extending over the edge of the badge. The reverse is plain with a vertical needle style pin, with an oval based hinge and catch.

The badge measures 42.05 mm (w) x 60.09 mm (h) and weights 27.6 grams.

The 50 and 100 engagement badges were struck in a lightweight zinc alloy; this was so that the larger pin did not pull inconveniently on the tunic. The 1957 de-Nazified version lost the eagle and the swastika, but was otherwise unchanged.

The Panzer Classes and Wear

Designed in 1939 by Ernst Peekhaus, the Panzer Badge was first issued in December 1939, when the chief of the OKW, Walter Von Brauchitsch, decided to create a medal dedicated to the sacrifice and the achievements of the Panzer’s crews. Two different classes of the badge were designed for those who received it during world war II. The first and “original” one was the silver Panzer Badge, designed to recognize solely the tank crews.

The “less original” one, the Bronze Panzer Badge, was designed to recognize the crews of armored vehicles (half tracks, trucks,…). As the war was still raging, it was decided that the Badge should evolve. In June 1943, four new classes were created, depending on the amount of engagement the recipent would have take part in: 25, 50, 75 and 100. Depending on which class and the amount of engagement you took part in, the metal used to design the medal and the color of it changed accordingly. 

After the war, it was frowned upon to wear this badge since there was a swastika on the top of it. Thus, West Germany decided in 1957 to authorize to wear the Panzer badge in public but only if the swastika was removed from it.

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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:

See all war badges >

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