WWII GERMAN BLACK WOUND BADGE -
Wound Badge was a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I, the
Reichswehr between the wars, and the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After
March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied bombings, it was also awarded to injured civilians. It was ultimately one of
the most common of all Third Reich decorations.
The example featured here has lost most of the paint in the front revealing a gold color. That was the base color employed.
Some collectors confuse that with a Gold wound badge. That is not correct.
Consisting of an oval shape with a wreat surrounding the perimeter of the award. The main body has raised pebbling. The profile of a German helmet is placed in the center. A swastka is placed in the center of the helmet. A pair of crossed swords is located behind the helmet. The shape is stamped so it is raised in
the front and sunk in the back.
Markings
may be found in the back of the badge. The sample shown here does not have any. It is important to note
that not all the badges had markings.
The black wound badge was issued on a paper envelope.
Of metal
construction with a hollowed back. very thin. A
vertical pin
is provided to secure the badge to the
tunic
of the owner. This was accomplished by putting the pin through a series of loops (two or more)
that were sewn to the breast area of the jacket. The pin is hinged on one end and has a catch on the other.
The wound badge was issued in three classes: Black,
silver and
gold .
The criteria for earning the award follows:
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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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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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