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3rd Reich Military Badge and Clasp Guide

This is an identification guide for the different types of Badges and Clasps awarded by the German Military from 1933 until 1945. Unless otherwise noted, all photographs are of original authentic items of the period. This guide is for identification only. To correctly authenticate an item, it's size, weight, composition, and construction details must be examined. If anyone has questions or suggestions, please contact Vern@GermanDaggers.com.

© 2000, 2015 by GermanDaggers.com

Wehrmacht Wound Badges




Condor Legion Wound Badge - Silver
Introduced 22 May 1939 - 1 Awarded



Condor Legion Wound Badge - Black
Introduced 22 May 1939 - 147 Awarded



Wound Badge - Gold
Introduced 1 September 1939



Wound Badge - Silver
Introduced 1 September 1939



Wound Badge - Black
Introduced 1 September 1939



Wound Badge of 20 Juli 1944 - Gold
Introduced 20 August 1944 - 7 Awarded



Wound Badge of 20 Juli 1944 - Silver
Introduced 20 August 1944 - 4 Awarded



Wound Badge of 20 Juli 1944 - Black
Introduced 20 August 1944 - 13 Awarded


Condor Legion Badges




Spanish Cross with Swords & Diamonds - Gold
Introduced 10 August 1939 - 28 Awarded



Spanish Cross with Swords - Gold
Introduced 10 August 1939 - 1,126 Awarded



Spanish Cross with Swords - Silver
Introduced 10 August 1939 - 8,304 Awarded



Spanish Cross with Swords - Bronze
Introduced 10 August 1939 - 8,462 Awarded



Spanish Cross - Silver
Introduced 10 August 1939 - 327 Awarded



Spanish Cross - Bronze
Introduced 10 August 1939 - 7,869 Awarded



Condor Legion Tank Badge
Introduced autumn 1936 - 415 Awarded



Spanish War Cross
Introduced 26 January 1937


Heer/SS Combat Badges




Army Parachutists Badge
Introduced 1 September 1937



Infantry Assault Badge - Silver
Introduced 20 December 1939



Motorized Infantry Assault Badge - Bronze
Introduced 1 June 1940



Panzer Assualt Badge - Silver
Introduced 20 December 1939



Panzer Assualt Badge - 25 Class
Introduced 1 June 1943



Panzer Assualt Badge - 50 Class
Introduced 1 June 1943



Panzer Assualt Badge - 75 Class
Introduced 22 June 1943



Panzer Assualt Badge - 100 Class
Introduced 22 June 1943



Panzergrenadier Assualt Badge - Bronze
Introduced 1 June 1940



Panzergrenadier Assualt Badge - 25 Class
Introduced 1 June 1943



Panzergrenadier Assualt Badge - 50 Class
Introduced 1 June 1943



Panzergrenadier Assualt Badge - 75 Class
Introduced 22 June 1943



Panzergrenadier Assualt Badge - 100 Class
Introduced 22 June 1943



General Assault Badge
Introduced 1 June 1940



General Assault Badge - 25 Class
Introduced 22 June 1943



General Assault Badge - 50 Class
Introduced 22 June 1943



General Assault Badge - 75 Class
Introduced 22 June 1943



General Assault Badge - 100 Class
Introduced 22 June 1943



Army Flak Badge
Introduced 13 July 1941



Anti-Partisian War Badge - Gold
Introduced 30 January 1944 - 10 Awarded



Anti-Partisian War Badge - Silver
Introduced 30 January 1944



Anti-Partisian War Badge - Bronze
Introduced 30 January 1944



Close Combat Clasp - Gold
Introduced 25 November 1942 - 631 Awarded



Close Combat Clasp - Silver
Introduced 25 November 1942



Close Combat Clasp - Bronze
Introduced 25 November 1942



Tank Destruction Badge - Gold
Introduced 18 December 1943 - 421 Awarded



Tank Destruction Badge- Silver
Introduced 9 March 1942



Driver Proficiency Badge - Gold
Introduced 23 October 1942



Driver Proficiency Badge - Silver
Introduced 23 October 1942



Driver Proficiency Badge - Bronze
Introduced 23 October 1942



Mountian Leader Proficiency Badge - Silver
Introduced 10 August 1936



Marksmanship Shield - Grades 1-4
1936-1938



Marksmanship Shield - Grades 1-4
1938-1945



Marksmanship Shield - Grades 5-8
1936-1945



Marksmanship Shield - Grades 9-12
1936-1945



Armored Marksmanship Shield - Grades 1-4
1938-1945



Armored Marksmanship Shield - Grades 5-8
1938-1945



Armored Marksmanship Shield - Grades 9-12
1938-1945


Luftwaffe Combat Badges




Air Crew Badge
Introduced 1 April 1934



Pilots Badge
Introduced 12 August 1935



Pilots Badge
Alternate design



Observers Badge
Introduced 26 March 1936



Combined Pilots/Observers Badge
Introduced 26 March 1936



Combined Pilots/Observers (Award Badge) Badge with Diamonds
55 Awarded



Combined Pilots/Observers Badge (Wear Badge) with Saphires



Combined Pilots/Observers Badge with Diamonds
Female Class - 2 Awarded



Radio Operators/Air Gunners Badge
Introduced 27 November 1935



Air Gunners/Flight Engineers Badge
Introduced 22 June 1942



Unqualified Air Gunners/Flight Engineers Badge
Introduced 25 April 1944



Glider Pilots Badge
Introduced 16 December 1940



Glider Pilots Badge (Large eagle)
Introduced 16 December 1940



Flyers Commemorative Badge
Introduced 26 March 1936



Parachutists Badge
Introduced 1 Janurary 1935



Anti-Aircraft War Badge
Introduced 10 Janurary 1944



Ground Combat Badge
Introduced 31 March 1942



Panzer Assault Badge - Silver
Introduced 3 November 1944



Panzergrenadier Assault Badge - Bronze
Introduced 3 November 1944



Marksmanship Shield - Grades 1-4
1936-1938



Marksmanship Shield - Grades 5-8
1936-1938



Marksmanship Shield - Grades 9-12
1936-1938



Marksmanship Shield - Grades 1-4
1938-1945



Marksmanship Shield - Grades 5-8
1938-1945



Marksmanship Shield - Grades 9-12
1938-1945


Luftwaffe Combat Clasps




Day Fighter Operational Flying Clasp - Gold with Diamonds
1 Awarded to Oberst Werner Molders



Day Fighter Operational Flying Clasp - Gold
Introduced 30 Janurary 1941



Day Fighter Operational Flying Clasp - Silver
Introduced 30 Janurary 1941



Day Fighter Operational Flying Clasp - Bronze
Introduced 30 Janurary 1941



Bomber Operational Flying Clasp - Gold
Introduced 30 Janurary 1941



Bomber Operational Flying Clasp - Silver
Introduced 30 Janurary 1941



Bomber Operational Flying Clasp - Bronze
Introduced 30 Janurary 1941



Reconnaissance Operational Flying Clasp - Gold
Introduced 30 Janurary 1941



Reconnaissance Operational Flying Clasp - Silver
Introduced 30 Janurary 1941



Reconnaissance Operational Flying Clasp - Bronze
Introduced 30 Janurary 1941



Transport & Glider Operational Flying Clasp - Gold
Introduced 19 November 1941



Transport & Glider Operational Flying Clasp - Silver
Introduced 19 November 1941



Transport & Glider Operational Flying Clasp - Bronze
Introduced 19 November 1941



Long Range Day Fighter Operational Flying Clasp - Gold
Introduced 13 May 1942



Long Range Day Fighter Operational Flying Clasp - Silver
Introduced 13 May 1942



Long Range Day Fighter Operational Flying Clasp - Bronze
Introduced 13 May 1942



Long Range Night Fighter Operational Flying Clasp - Gold
Introduced 14 August 1942



Long Range Night Fighter Operational Flying Clasp - Silver
Introduced 14 August 1942



Long Range Night Fighter Operational Flying Clasp - Bronze
Introduced 14 August 1942



Short Range Night Fighter Operational Flying Clasp - Gold
Introduced 14 August 1942



Short Range Night Fighter Operational Flying Clasp - Silver
Introduced 14 August 1942



Short Range Night Fighter Operational Flying Clasp - Bronze
Introduced 14 August 1942



Air to Ground Support Flying Clasp - Gold with Diamonds
1 Awarded to Oberst Hans Rudel



Air to Ground Support Flying Clasp - Gold
Introduced 20 April 1944



Air to Ground Support Flying Clasp - Silver
Introduced 20 April 1944



Air to Ground Support Flying Clasp - Bronze
Introduced 20 April 1944



500 Additional Missions Pendant
Introduced 26 June 1942
Could be added to any Flying Clasp



Numbered (200-2000) Additional Missions Pendant
Introduced 29 April 1944
Could be added to any Flying Clasp


Kreigsmarine Combat Badges




U-Boat War Badge
Introduced 13 October 1939



U-Boat War Badge with Diamonds
28 Awarded



Special Class U-Boat War Badge with Diamonds
1 Awarded to Karl Donitz (Replacement copy)



Destroyers War Badge
Introduced 4 June 1940



Minesweeper/Sub-Chaser/Escort Badge
Introduced 31 August 1940



1st Type E-Boat War Badge
Introduced 30 May 1941



2nd Type E-Boat War Badge
Introduced 1 January 1943



2nd Type E-Boat War Badge with Diamonds
8 Awarded



Auxiliary Cruisers War Badge
Introduced 24 April 1941



Auxiliary Cruisers War Badge with Diamonds
2 Awarded



High Seas Fleet War Badge
Introduced 30 April 1941



Blockade Runners Badge
Introduced 1 April 1941



Coastal Artillery War Badge
Introduced 24 June 1941



U-Boat Combat Clasp - Gold
Introduced 15 May 1944



U-Boat Combat Clasp - Silver
Introduced 15 May 1944



U-Boat Combat Clasp - Bronze
Introduced 15 May 1944



Watch Officer's Badge
Indicates a position of authority, not an award



Marksmanship Shield - Grade 4


Miscellaneous Badges




Proposed General Assault Badge
1 prototype known, produced by Lauer, Nurnberg



Proposed Infantry Assault Badge
1 prototype known, produced by Lauer, Nurnberg



Anti-Partisan Badge in Gold with blue burnished Sword
Unknown source



Proposed Anti-Partisan Badge in Gold with Diamonds
Prototype known, produced by Junckers, Berlin



Army Balloon Observer Badge
Introduced 8 July 1944, 1 prototype known
Production assigned to a firm in Dresden. Badges and dies destroyed during bombing raid.



Proposed General Assault Badge - 200 Class
Proposed January 1945, no originals known



Proposed Panzer Assault Badge - 200 Class
Proposed January 1945, no originals known



Ground Combat Badge - Numbered Class
Introduced 10 November 1944, 1 prototype known



Tank Battle Badge - Numbered Class
Introduced 10 November 1944, 1 prototype known



Sea Battle Badge
Introduced 27 November 1944, 1 prototype known



Proposed Destroyer Badge with Diamonds
Prototype known, produced by Schwerin, Berlin



Proposed High Seas Fleet Badge with Diamonds
Prototype known, produced by Schwerin, Berlin



Luftwaffe Close Combat Clasp - Bronze
Introduced 3 November 1944, no originals known
Awarded but not produced.



Aircraft Destruction Badge
Introduced 12 January 1945, no originals known
27 Awarded but not produced.



Naval Combat Clasp
Introduced 19 November 1944, trial strikes known
Original design, awarded but not produced.



Naval Combat Clasp
Introduced 19 November 1944
Photo is of the 1957 reissue. Similar "field produced" examples known.



Small Battle Unit Combat Clasp
Introduced 13 November 1944, 1 original known
Original design.



Small Battle Unit Combat Clasp
Introduced 13 November 1944
Photo is of the 1957 reissue.