REFERENCE BOOKS 

GERMAN REPRODUCTIOINS

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ARMY AND WAFFEN SS BADGES

These badges were worn on the left breast pocket. The Army and Waffen SS awarded the following badges for combat service:

The Infantry Assault Badge in silver was the equivalent of the American Combat Infantry Badge, and was awarded to members of infantry units who had participated in at least three infantry assaults or counterattacks. Only one grade was given. It is worth noting that the silver award was limited to actual infantry or mountain infantry units; a bronze version was authorized for motorized infantry.

The Panzer Assault Badge in silver was awarded to tank crews for a similar number of actions. In 1943, advanced Panzer Assault Badges for 25, 50, 75, and 100 assaults were also authorized, the 75 and 100 assault versions being finished in gold rather than silver. The award was restricted to tank crews; a bronze version was provided for members of armored car and panzer grenadier units.

The General Assault Badge was awarded to men who participated in attacks but were not eligible for the Infantry or Panzer awards. These included assault gun, anti-tank and artillery crews, combat engineers, medics, and other close-support troops. In 1943, numbered versions were authorized, the "100" version being in gold with a black eagle.

The Close Combat Clasp recognized the dangers of hand-to-hand combat without armor support, and was awarded in bronze, silver, and gold versions. No less an authority than Hitler himself considered the Close Combat Clasp in Gold second only to the Knight’s Cross as the highest award an infantryman could attain.

The Anti-partisan Badge was instituted by Heinrich Himmler in January 1944, and was awarded primarily to Waffen SS and other anti-partisan units in bronze, silver, and gold versions.

The Wound Badge was awarded in black, silver and gold, depending on the number and severity of the wound(s) received. A special version was made for those wounded in the July 20, 1944 bomb attempt on Hitler's life; 14 of these were awarded in black, 3 in Silver, and 7 in Gold.

LUFWAFFE BADGES

Like their American counterparts, German aircrew badges were qualification badges granted for two months flying service or five operational flights in a capacity which did not require combat service. All pilots received the Pilot’s Badge upon completion of training, showing a black eagle on a silver wreath. The Observer's Badge was similar in appearance, but with a hovering eagle with curved wings; it was awarded to non-pilots for operational flights. The combined Pilot and Observer’s Badge was in effect a senior pilot’s badge, being of the same design as the pilot’s, but with a silver eagle on a gold wreath. The Parachutist’s Badge was awarded to parachute qualified personnel.

When the war started, the Luftwaffe began to award combat badges. The Flak Gunner’s Badge was awarded to anti-aircraft units, and until April 1942 was awarded to 88mm anti-tank artillery and other gun crews for ground action as well. The Luftwaffe Ground Assault, Close Combat Clasp and Panzer Assault badges were equivalent to their army counterparts, for awards to the elite Hermann Göring Division, paratroops, and other Luftwaffe ground combat formations.

KRIEGSMARINE (NAVY) BADGES

   The most famous Kriegsmarine award was the U-boat Combat Badge, awarded only in gold. The Submarine Close Combat Clasp was established in 1944 to recognize prolonged or particularly dangerous service, and was eventually awarded in bronze, silver, and gold versions. The High Seas Fleet Badge acknowledged a combat cruise on either a battleship or cruiser, the Destroyer Badge on a destroyer, and the Auxiliary Cruiser Badge with armed merchant raiders like the famous "Atlantis." The E-boat Badge was awarded for service on torpedo boats, whose daring raids constantly harassed Allied shipping in the British home waters. Their attack on a D-Day rehearsal at Slapton Sands in 1944 caused over 1500 American casualties, a disaster that was kept secret at the time and did not come to light until the 1980's. The coast artillery also fell under the control of the Navy, and the Coast Artillery Badge was awarded to those who saw combat service with this arm, best known for manning the big guns of the "Atlantic Wall."

WW II POLITICAL BADGES

SUPERIOR QUALITY BADGES

These badges are made from sharper castings than our standard badges, and each is carefully hand-finished and antiqued to bring out the fine detail. Individual attention of this sort costs more, but we think you’ll find the results are worth it.

CLICK ON THE PICTURES for more details on each item in this section

WORLD WAR I GERMAN BADGES

WW 1 U-boat badge
GRR048....$13.95

WW 1 Navy Zeppelin badge

GRR253....$13.95

WW 1 Stormtrooper badge

GRR481....$13.95

WW 1 Army Zeppelin badge

GRR047....$13.95

REPRODUCTION
MILITARY IDENTITY BOOKS

The Germans were famous for their meticulous record keeping, and nowhere was this better exemplified that in the soldbuch (pay book) that was carried by each member of the armed forces. It contained not only the necessary personal information — photograph, date and place of birth, parents, etc. — but also detailed records of the man’s promotions, payment, clothing issue, and weapons for which he was responsible. This was the soldier’s most important personal document, and  pity the poor landser who accidentally lost his! Needless to say, captured soldbuchs were a useful source of information for Allied intelligence.

These copies are taken from original documents, and are correct right down to the color of the cardboard covers and bindings. They are ideally suited to the requirements of the collector or reenactor.

                GRR306     Army Soldbuch                          $12.95          GRR 452   Army Cover   $5.95
                                                                                                     

                GRR307     Luftwaffe Soldbuch                    $12.95          GRR453     LW Cover   $5.95
                                                                                                    

                GRR 308    SS Soldbuch                              $15.95            GRR454   SS Cover   $5.95
                                                                                                    

                GMP117     Navy Soldbuch                           $19.95            GMP118    KM cover  $5.95
                                                                                                   

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