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WWII GERMAN BADGE - LUFTWAFFE TRANSPORT AND MATERIAL UNIT -
This is a WWII German Luftwaffe transport and material unit Badge. This award is part of a family known as the Combat Flying Clasps. It was established on January 30th, 1941 by the Ministry of Aviation.
It was designed by Proffessor V. Weech of Berlin. It was issued in recognition for air activities against
the enemy.
All Air force personnel were elligible for the combat clasp. It was more appropriate if the soldier
already had one of the following awards: Pilot, Observer, Bombardier, Radio Operator, Flight Engineer,
Aerial Gunner, War correspondant and civil officials.
The award came in three grades representing the number of missions that were flown:
- Bronze - 20 combat missions
- Silver - 60 combat missions
- Gold - 110 combat missions
The clasp has a long shape. The center is a circle made of a wreath with an eagle attached to the wreath
by its wings. The eagle is a separate piece from the rest of the badge and it is attached to the wreath
via the use of rivets. The eagle is depicted in flight and pointing to the right.
The wings are fully extended. the head is facing forward. very sharp plumeage.
Laurel leaves extend to the left and the right of the circle. A total of nine leaves in a 3,3,2,1 pattern.
High quality detail to all the parts of the badge. Well defined leafing.
A horizontal pin is secured to the body via the use of a hinge. A catch is found on the opposite side. The
pin is thick and "Coke" bottle shape. The award is attached to the uniform by driving the pin
through a series of loops (two or more) sewn to the chest area of the
jacket.
The back of the badge is plain and does not have any
markings.
some of the clasps did have manufacturer logos and may have had
RZM numbers.
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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 is a close look at the
hinge for the pin .
It is important to pay close attention to the construction of the hinge and catch because that is
one way to be able to identify fakes. A collector should become very familiar with the way in which
these badges were built.
There are several present manufacturers producing
replicas of this badge. They
are primarily located in India, Pakistan and China.
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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