Germany - Third Reich: Army Parachutists Badge, aluminium 1st type 2nd pattern, no makers marks, needle pin reverse housed in fitted Luftwaffe Parachutists Badge case of issue. A fine example of this scarce badge.
Condition: possible repaired catch as acknowledged when previously sold in Ratisbon’s Good Very Fine, rare.
Provenance: Ex-Ratisbon’s, Lot K-1324 sold for 4200 euros in 2016.
https://www.ratisbons.com/de/shop/militaria/highlights/army-paratrooper-badge-in-case.html
The German Army Parachutists Badge was authorised by Generaloberst Freiherr von Fritsch on 1st September 1937 and was awarded for completion of training at the Army Parachutists School and then completing six jumps, the recipient would then have to complete a further six jumps each year to retain the right to wear the badge, these qualification jumps ranged in height from 120 to 250 metres and consisted of individual, group and night jumps. However when the Luftwaffe took control of all airborne units on 1st January 1939, the award of the Army Parachutists Badge ended, and all graduates from the parachute school would receive the Luftwaffe Parachutists Badge.
However in 1943 the Army Parachutists Badge was re-instituted for the small number of men that completed special parachute training with the Brandenburg Division. It should also be noted that many Army qualified paratroops continued to wear their old badge throughout the war as a symbol of pride and accomplishment.
C.E. Juncker produced the Army Parachutists Badge using three different metals between 1937 and 1943. The first type qualification badges were die struck from aluminium in two patterns. Distinguished by its thinner extended talon of the diving eagle, the first pattern aluminium badge was discontinued soon after its manufacture due to the breakage of its delicate component, the talons, beak and furthest wing tip of the diving eagle. The second pattern aluminium badge corrected the problem with a design strengthening the talons with more metal. In addition, a small beard was included below the national eagle's beak to provide strength in this area. Aluminium Army Parachutists Badge's are believed to be of pre-war manufacture, however aluminium badges may have also been manufactured to serve as replacement pieces until 1941. With the special training of the army troops for the Brandenburg Division airborne units in 1943, the second form (2nd type) of the badge was introduced. Identical to the aluminium (1st type) second pattern badge, it is however manufactured from zinc due to the then wartime economy, though there is also a possibility that some of the 1st type second pattern badges do exist in zinc as private replacements for lost or damaged badges. Finally there is the third form (3rd type) of the badge that was a private purchase item manufactured from .800 quality silver. This badge has the same design as the first pattern 1st type first form aluminium badge but includes more hand finishing and uses a wider attachment pin. When encountered, the badge usually has the soldier's name and unit engraved on the reverse of the wreath. Since few service men were willing to pay for these badges, Army Parachutists Badges made from silver are extremely rare and most have been accounted for. However due to the fact that so few men qualified for the Army Parachutists Badge in any form, all badges technically can be considered extremely rare
