Germany - Third Reich: A spectacular Kriegsmarine Blockade Runner’s Badge, good quality mid-war version, vertical wide tapered pin, bearing makers marks on the reverse: ‘Fec. Otto Placzek Berlin Ausf. Schwerin Berlin’, for the designer Otto Placzek of Berlin and the badge maker, Schwerin of Berlin. Together with stickpin.
Condition: silver wash on eagle still largely present, Good Very Fine.
The Blockade Runner Badge or the Badge for Blockade Runners (Abzeichen für Blockadebrecher) was awarded for service on warships or merchant vessels that attempted to break through the British sea blockade of Germany. It was instituted on 1st April, 1941 and first awarded on 1st July of the same year. The badge was designed by Otto Placzeck in Berlin. It was in either tombac or zinc and featured a ship with a large eagle grasping a swastika on its bow. Around the circumference of the badge is a chain, through which the ship is cutting. The eagle was silvered whilst the rest of the badge was a dark gray colour. The badge was worn on the left breast pocket of the uniform A smaller half-size version was awarded for use by civilians and members of the merchant marine.
