Wound Badge

Wound Badge
Verwundetenabzeichen

1918 version in black
Awarded by Imperial German Army, Reichswehr & Nazi Germany
Type Badge
Eligibility Military personnel
Awarded for wounds or frostbite whilst on active service
Campaign World War I & World War II
Status Obsolete
Statistics
Total awarded 5 million awarded during World War II

1939 version in black

The Wound Badge (German: Verwundetenabzeichen) was a military decoration first promulgated by Wilhelm II, German Emperor on 3 March 1918, which was awarded to wounded or frostbitten soldiers of the Imperial German Army, during World War I. Between the world wars, it was awarded to members of the German armed forces who fought on the Nationalist side of the Spanish Civil War, 1938–39, and received combat related wounds.[1] It was awarded to members in the Reichswehr, the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied bombings, it was also awarded to wounded civilians in air raids.[2] It was awarded when the wound was the result of enemy hostile action, with an exception being for frost-bite.[2]

Classes

The badge had three classes:

The "progression" could be waived in the event of loss of a limb or eyesight; when such a severe wound occurred, the silver badge was awarded.[2]

Badges exist in pressed steel, brass and zinc. All versions of the Wound Badge were worn on the lower left breast of the uniform or tunic. The badge was worn below all other awards on the left. It ranked lower than combat badges.[3] There were 24 approved manufacturers of the Wound Badge.[4] At first, the Wound Badge in Black was stamped from sheet brass, painted semi-matte black with a hollow reverse pin back attachment or of solid construction.[5] From 1942, steel was used to make the badges. The Wound Badge in silver was made (before 1942) from silver-plated brass,[6] and (after 1942) from lacquered zinc, and had a solid reverse with either a needle pin or a broad flat pin bar. The Wound Badge in Gold was a gilded version of the Wound Badge in Silver. In 1957, a revised version of the Wound Badge was authorised for wear; however, the previous type could still be worn if the swastika were removed (for example by grinding).

Wound Badge of 20 July 1944

The 20 July version of the Badge shown in black, silver and gold

The 20 July 1944 Wound Badge is the rarest of these awards, as it was only issued to those injured during the failed attempt on Adolf Hitler's life at the Wolf's Lair headquarters in Rastenburg, East Prussia. Twenty-four men were present when the bomb detonated; one officer was killed and three succumbed to their wounds a short time later. Thereafter, Hitler ordered a special wound badge be awarded commemorating the event, as he believed "fate had intervened" for him.[7]

The 20 July Wound Badge is based on the common Wound Badge, but the helmet is slightly higher and larger; it also bears the date "20 Juli 1944" and a facsimile of Hitler's signature below the helmet and date.[8] The 20 July Wound Badges were made in all three grades of black, silver, and gold. All of these wound badges were made by the C. E. Junckner firm and were made out of solid hallmarked silver. Recipients who had already been previously awarded regulation Wound Badges were awarded the 20 July Wound Badge in a higher grade.[9]

Unlike the Wound Badge in Black, the 20 July Wound Badge in Black was not all black. Only the helmet and wreath were black; the background was in silver so that the date and facsimile signature could be seen. The 20 July Wound Badge in gold also had a silver background with the helmet and wreath colored gold. The 20 July Wound Badge in silver has black highlights on the helmet swastika, the date, and the facsimile signature. Unlike the standard Wound Badges, these were of two-piece construction.[10]

Hitler presented the survivors with the special wound badge as well as a unique award document. The first were in a ceremony on 20 August 1944.[11] The four posthumous awards were sent to the recipients' wives.[12] Although Hitler had been injured in the bombing, he did not give one of these badges to himself. Hitler had earned his own Wound Badge (in black) in World War I on 18 May 1918.[13]

The badge replaced the basic 1939 Wound Badge on those persons who were presented the 20 July Badge. It is important to note however that this badge was more a personal gift from Hitler to those involved, and was intended to be a treasured one-off souvenir of a momentous historical event.[14] Recipients of the 20 July wound badge could have their 20 July wound badges upgraded if they earned higher grades of the Wound Badge. Konteradmiral Hans-Erich Voss eventually had the 20 July Wound Badge in all three grades, earning it in black on 20 July 1944, and having it upgraded twice for subsequent wounds.[10]

Notes

  1. ↑ Angolia 1987, p. 256.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Angolia 1987, p. 259.
  3. ↑ Angolia 1987, pp. 257, 259, 260.
  4. ↑ Angolia 1987, p. 260.
  5. ↑ Angolia 1987, pp. 259, 260.
  6. ↑ Angolia 1987, pp. 257, 259.
  7. ↑ Angolia 1987, pp. 264–267.
  8. ↑ Angolia 1987, p. 267.
  9. ↑ Angolia 1987, pp. 267–268.
  10. 1 2 Angolia 1987, pp. 268, 269.
  11. ↑ Angolia 1987, pp. 266, 267, 269, 270.
  12. ↑ Angolia 1987, p. 268.
  13. ↑ Steiner 1976, p. 392.
  14. ↑ Angolia 1987, pp. 264, 268, 269.

References

Further reading

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