WWII GERMAN BADGE - NAVY DESTROYER
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.
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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 eing 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 "Coke"
shape 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.
in order to receive the badge, the sailor would have to meet the following qualifications:
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.
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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 "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.
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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.
The following pictures provide different close-up views of the pin and how it attaches to the body of
the badge. This particular example does not have any markings in the back. However, some badges
will have the manufacturer's
logo or the
RZM numbers.
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.
| GERMAN NAVY DESTROYER BADGE VARIATIONS |
The Kriegsmarine Destroyer badge was produced by several manufacturers and in different configurations. It is important
for the military collector to become acquainted with as many examples of a badge as possible. This exercise will
enhance your knowledge and give you a better chance to recognize a reproduction. The following section displays some
of the different types that were manufactured.
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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