WWII GERMAN LUFTWAFFE FLAK BADGE -
Military aviation underwent a large number of advancements during WWII. The invention of better
engines, materials and engineering witnessed the birth of some of the most interesting aircraft in
the history of war.
The new role enjoyed by aviation brought about changes to the way wars were fought. hundreads of
aircraft took to the air at one time to perform bombing missions and fight one another in the
skies. The troops in the ground saw the need to respond to the new threat from above by developing
guns that could shoot very high and deliver an explosive round. The Anti-aircraft forces are born.
Hitler realized that fighting incoming aricraft from the ground was a tough assignment. As such,
he wanted to create an award to recognize the troops that undertook this assignment. This came
in the form of the anti-aircraft badge, also known as the Flak badge. one was issued to
the
Army,
Navy and the one featured in this page for the
Air force.
The design of the badge consists of an oval shaped wreath with a Luftwaffe eagle placed in the upper
portion. The wreath branches meet in the lower portion to the left and right of a rectangular
shape. Inside the wreath is the profile of the venerable 88 Anti-Aircraft gun. It is mounted on
a base that shows the gears and mechanism required to change its angle.
The eagle is portrayed in flight. The wings are fully extended. It is flying to the right. A swastika
is clutched with a single claw while the other claw is being held up in the air. The tail is facing
down. This style is known as the "droop" tail eagle and it was employed in the early years of the
Luftwaffe.
|
The "Military minute" is a series of instructional videos created by MilitaryItems.com for the purpose of
providing basic information about military collectibles. The idea is to expose people to the exciting
world of military collectibles.
The video presentation coupled with detailed photographs and written information, including a military
collectible's price guide, and anatomical breakdown of each piece enhances the visitor's experience.
Whether you are a long time collector, a beginner or simply have an interest in the history and value of
each collectible, we hope that you find the information presented here useful.
|
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.
|
|
The back of the badge is flat and it features a
Vertical pin which is hinged at the top with
a catch soldered at the opposite end. The sample featured here does not have any
manufacturer markings.
Some of the badges were stamped at the point of production. However, that did not occur in every
case.
The award was worn on the cheat area of the
tunic .
It was attached by running the pin through a series of loops (two or more) that were sewn to the
jacket. The badge was worn during normal duties.
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.
WWII GERMAN FLAK BADGE VARIATIONS |
The Luftwaffe Flak badge was produced by several manufacturers and in different
configurations. It is a good idea to become familiarized with as many examples as possible of the badge of interest.
This practice will enhance your experience and ability to detect a reproduction. The following section displays some
of the different types that were manufactured.
|