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WWII GERMAN BADGE - HIGH SEAS FLEET -

This is a WWII Fleet War badge. This badge was established on April 30th, 1941. It was designed by Adolf Bock of Berlin. The criteria for receiving the badge was to have proof of distinction and good conduct in the execution of missions inside a battleship or cruiser, for at least 12 weeks.

Other qualifying criteria included:

  1. When the mission was particularly effective and the individual showed great leadership or was killed in action.
  2. Survivors of ships that were sunk by the enemy. Or if the crew member was wounded during action.
  3. For participating in two missions near Iceland.





The shape of the badge is that of an oval wreath. An eagle has been placed in the upper portion of the oval. It has the wings spread out and the head faces left. As with most badges, the eagle is clutching a swastika. Right below that is the frontal view of a destroyer. The waves at the bow are parting as to indicate motion. The main guns are facing forward. Nice detailing to windows. Very sharp and square. Other components of the ship have similar definition. Normally the wreath would be guilded, however, it is common for the color to wear out through normal use and time. The color turns into a shade of silver/gray.

The back of the badge is plain and has a slight convex shape to it. A vertical "Coke" shape Pin is provided. It is Hinged at the top and has a catch at the opposite side that secures it in the closed position. The back also shows Manufacturing marks. They are stamped near the center and read "DEFCHIER - Munchen".

The sailor would wear the badge by passing the pin through loops sewn onto the jacket.


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.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?
  1. Identifying fakes and reproductions
  2. RZM manufacturing codes
  3. LDO manufacturing codes
  4. Construction materials
  5. Pins, hinges and other
  6. Perspective view
  7. Purchasing a WWII German badge





This is a closer view of the hinge for the pin and its hinge. It is details like this one that help identify the real badges from the fake ones. The collector must pay attention to all aspects of construction. Things such as the shape of the pin, the type of tip of the pin and others become very important when determinig authenticity.

The picture below shows some left over solder where the hinge has been attached to the body. This is an indication of field repair. Since sailors actually wore these awards while on duty, it is not uncommon to see damage to them. The badge may have been snagged by a pipe while the sailor was moving, causing the hinge to come off. The person could promptly fix it by soldering back.











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.





GERMAN HIGH SEAS BADGE VARIATIONS
The High Seas badge was produced by several manufacturers and in different configurations. The following section displays some of the different types that were produced.

WWII High Seas
Fec Adolf Boc Badge
High Seas Badge
R.S. Maker
WWII High Seas
Made by RS&S




PRICING GUIDE INFORMATION

The value for German WWII Combat badges and other military antiques and collectibles is provided as a means to educate the collector community and individuals who have a general interest on the field. The following is an estimated value. Prices may vary in every state and every country. This service is provided courtesy of MilitaryItems.com. The source for military antiques and collectibles in the web.

Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Value $320.00 $390.00 $425.00 $490.00 $490.00 $
Availability Rare Rare Rare Rare Rare
Invest Grade A A A A A


While the item featured here is not for sale, similar items like it are available for purchase in our website MilitaryItems.com


 
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