WWII GERMAN DESTROYER BADGE -
The Destroyers War badge was authorized on June 4th 1940 by the Grand Admiral Erich Raeder. This award was first
issued to participants of the battle of Narvik. The recipients of the badge were originally members of a destroyer crew. However, later on the same year the eligible recipients grew to include crews from Torpedo
boats and E-boats.
Qualifications to receive the award included:
The recipient was wounded during action. Participation on 12 missions without enemy contact. Service on a ship
sunk by the enemy. For heroic service during combat where no other award was given.
The design of the badge consisted of an oval wreath with an eagle in the top portion and a knot in the bottom section. The image of a destroyer is placed inside the wreath. It is depicted as being in motion by showing
waves parting in the front. The wreath is gold in color. The guilding had a tendency of wearing out due to
normal wear, leaving the badge with a silver/gray tone.
The back of the badge has a hook and a horizontal
pin.
The hook located in the top portion of the badge enabled the bearer to secure the award to a tunic and
reduce the lateral motion of the award.
The pin has a barrel hinge on one end and secures to a latch on the other end. The pin is of the "wire"
type. Special attention must be payed to the shape of the hooks and how they are attached to the body of the
award. These are some of the key elements that will allow a collector to distinguish a real badge from a
reproduction.
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world of military collectibles.
The video presentation coupled with detailed photographs and written information, including a military
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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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The soldier wore the badge on the
uniform tunic.
It was secured in place by passing the badge's pin through a series of loops, two or more, that
were sewn in the jacket.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
The physical properties of a badge are a very important aspect to consider when determining
the authenticity of a badge. The information provided here covers the badge shown on this
page. It is important to note that there are variations among manufacturers.
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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