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MILITARY MATERIALS OF COSTRUCTION -

The German armed forces of WWII employed a wide variety of materials to construct the different items needed by their troops. Among the articles are badges, medals, belt buckles, awards, etc.

This section of the website provides a list of some of the materials. Photographs are also included to provide a visual of the topic. A basic list of the items that were produced from each material are also provided.

This service is brought 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.



BADGE MATERIALS MATERIAL ITEMS PRODUCED
Aluminum
Used from the 1930's to around 1941.
  • Belt buckles
  • Dagger parts and fittings
  • Insignia and tinnies
  • Hat and breast eagles
  • Badges


  • Steel
  • Belt buckles
  • Fighting knives
  • Bayonet parts
  • Badge pins


  • Zinc
    Used from mid to late war years. Very brittle material. It was used primarily because other materials were being employed in the production of weapons. See example of aging zinc badge

  • Badges
  • Dagger hangers
  • dagger parts and fittings
  • Sword components


  • Tombac
    This material is a copper alloy that ressembles brass. Also spelled Tombak or Tomback. Replaced the use of Nickel-silver and aluminum.

  • Badges


  • Nickel silver
    Used from the 1930's to around 1941. High quality badges.

  • Badges
  • Dagger and sword parts



  • UNIFORM MATERIALS MATERIAL ITEMS PRODUCED
    German Army Dress Tunic
    1. Dress tunics
    German Army Inside of Dress Tunic
    1. Dress tunics
    German Luftwaffe Paratrooper Jump Suit
    1. Combat Uniforms
    German Hitler Youth Shirt
    1. Field tunics
    German Desert Shirt
    1. Field tunics
    German Navy Shirt
    1. Work tunics
    German Political Shirt
    1. Field Shirt



    CLOTH INSIGNIA MATERIALS MATERIAL ITEMS PRODUCED
    Wool Labor union patches
    Cotton Military and civilian patches



    DOCUMENT MATERIALS MATERIAL ITEMS PRODUCED

    Cardboard stock light weight

    Used in fold-out ID cards. Refer to documentation section.


    cardboard stock heavy weight

    Used with work pay books. Refer to documentation section.


    Light Brown paper

    Used for pages in many applications such as work pay books, military ID books, etc. Often times it had a background design which could include swastikas or a checkered pattern. Refer to documentation section.


    Photograph attached via glue

    Most commonly used with work pay books. This method of securing a photo to the ID book was abandoned early on because it was much easier to forge. Notice that official stamps are applied to opposite corners. Refer to documentation section.


    Photograph attached via rivets

    Most commonly used with identity books. The photo in this example is attached via the use of machined rivets with a gear pattern. This method was more effective as it was difficult to forge. Note the us of ink stamps in opposite corners. Refer to documentation section.


    Photograph attached via staples

    Most commonly used with identification cards. Two staples, one on top and one on bottom, hold the photo in place. Some examples used a single staple. The ink seals are applied to opposite corners. Refer to documentation section.






     
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