WWII GERMAN BADGE - ARMY PARATROOPER 2nd PATTERN -
The Army paratrooper badge was instituted on September 1st 1937 by the commander in chief
of the German Army, Von Fritsch. This badge was offered to all members of the Army Parachutist
group who accomplished five jumps and passed a qualification test. The offering came in a blue
box with felt cover and gold letters on the top of the lid. This badge stopped being
issued when the Parachutist troop's control was given to the air force. This badge is not
considered to be a war time award. However, this piece is very hard to find and it is very
expensive.
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ARMY PARATROOPER BADGE DESIGN
The badge is of two piece construction where the pieces are attached by rivets. The design
consists of an oval wreath with an army eagle affixed to the top and the figure of a ring
at the bottom section, which simulates holding the wreath together. A large diving eagle
crosses the wreath at an angle from one side to the other.
The eagle at the top portion of the wreath has the wings retracted. It 's head is facing to
the left. It is clutching a swastika.
Very nice detailing is applied to the leaves in the wreath. The plumeage on the diving eagle
is also very well defined. The claws are in the open position.
The back of the badge has a vertical pin. The hinge is of barrel type. The catch is at the
opposite side and is of wire type. There are no markings
on the back of the badge. Some of them were produced with markings while others were not. The
pin ends with a sharp point.
The Army paratrooper badges were produced in two patterns. As a general rule, the first pattern
had a maker's mark in the back while the second pattern did not. Another difference was the
construction of the talon of the diving eagle. The first pattern was cut-out and further away
from the body of the eagle. The second pattern was not cutout and was placed closer to the
body.
ARMY PARATROOPER BADGE REPLICAS
Due to the high cost of this badge and the fact that is currently being
reproduced, it
is important for the buyer to pay attention to the details of how the badge is constructed to
minimize the risks of purchasing a fake. Some of the pointers that should be kept in mind when
inspecting an Army Paratrooper badge include:
The rivets should be conical and very well defined. Replicas often have rivets that are flat,
damaged or very sloppy. The rivets on this particular piece have spacers under them, not every
piece has this characteristic.
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The right type of hook is illustrated in the pictures below. the hook
should be cleanly attached to the body of the badge. There should not be extra soldering or
messy mounting.
THE PARATROOPER BADGE BOX DESIGN
The Army paratrooper badge issued during Nazi Germany came in a blue colored hard box. The skin
covering the box has a leather texture. The lid has barrel type hinges. They are visible from
the outside but cannot be seen when the box is opened because they are covered by material in
the inside.
The inside of the lid is lined with a blue satin material and it is padded. The area where the
badge rests is cut-out for perfect fit, which was a common feature of higher level badges. The
surface is covered with dark blue felt. A golden colored latch and button secure the lid when
shut.
The top of the lid is adorned with golden gothic letters that spell the words "Fallschirmchursen
abgeichen".
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This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII German badges and awards. Multiple
detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined points
that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII German badge worth?". A price
guide is included here to address this question. The value of the badges and awards is reviewed
over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth of the German
badges in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military
antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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LATCH AND PIN
The latch and pin are also very important in determining the authenticity of a piece.
The following pictures are a prime example of how they should look. Just like in the case of
the hook, it is extremely important that the mounting to the body be very clean.
Special attention should be paid to the definition on the wings, the head and the
claws of the eagle. The lines should be sharp and precise. Smooth and rounded contours
may be an indication of forgery.
| GERMAN WWII ARMY PARATROOPER BADGE VARIATIONS |
The Army Fallschimjager badge was produced by several manufacturers and in different
configurations. The following section displays some of the different types that were manufactured. It is a good
idea for a collector to get acquainted with as many examples of a badge as possible. This experience enhances
the nkowledge base on the topic.
This award is currently being
reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality
of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style
and materials employed in the manufacturing of this badge. Attention to the details is critical in
order to be able to determine the authenticity of the badge.
If you have an interest is seeing other badges and awards of the Third Reich, you can do so by going
to our
WWII German Badges and Awards
identification guide. Where we cover Heer (Army), Navy (Kriegsmarine) and
Air Force (Luftwaffe) items.
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