Germany – Third Reich: Wound Badge 1939, Black Grade with wartime applied gold finish.
Condition: gold finish applied to obverse only, Very Fine
The Wound Badge was first promulgated by Kaiser Wilhelm II on 3rd March 1918, and was awarded to wounded or frostbitten soldiers of the Imperial German Army during the Great War, the Reichswehr between the wars, and 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 injured civilians. It was ultimately one of the most common of all awards in the Black Grade, yet also one of the most highly prized, since it was earned as a mark of honour for all who have risked their lives for the Fatherland and have been wounded or maimed. The Gold Grade or 1st class, could be awarded posthumously, or for five or more times wounded, total blindness, loss of manhood , or severe brain damage via hostile action.
