nazi pin

[cheezyflier]

maybe some of you folks can tell me if this is a real thing, or where i might find out.
i was cleaning out the storage unit of this woman who died not long ago. she was really old, and she was a german living here in canada. she was definitely alive during the right time period. i found this pin. anyone have any info or can tell me where i could look?

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s180/cheezyridr/nazipin.jpg

[Jagdflieger]

I believe that it is a German WWII wound badge. It would be much like our Purple Heart in the US Armed Forces. I also think that it came in three levels, denoted by the material and finish.

Probably not an award that many enjoyed receiving.

[Lazerbeak]

I am by no means an expert, but some (admittedly quick and sloppy) researching brought up some images of an identical badge, with the description that it's a badge awarded to German soldiers who were wounded in combat, as Jagdflieger said.

[Bushpounder]

That is a Wound Badge. It appears to be a silver one. Have a look here:

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/service_awards/wound_badges/history.htm

Don

[Ken Stallings]

That is a Wound Badge. It appears to be a silver one. Have a look here:

http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/service_awards/wound_badges/history.htm

Don

That is exactly what it appears to be. Either genuine or a very nice fake and since there is no expensive market for them, the odds of being a fake are practically zero.

You should attempt to determine the story behind it. Would not at all surprise me it is a badge awarded to her former husband or son, or close relative.

Ken

[Moparmike]

I would venture a guess that it's more likely a very well worn black badge instead of a silver.
At another page on the site that Bushpounder linked there are better shots of the WWII era Black and Silver badges. http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/service_awards/wound_badges/1939_main.htm

The black is hollow backed like the one that cheezy has pictured, where the silver grade is solid cast (either brass or pot-metal...zinc). The black was the same as our Purple Heart where the silver was for repeats, or as the above page states, for more serious injuries as well.

I have seen pictures of an authentic black WWII wound badge that belonged to a distant relative (a branch of the family that stayed in Germany). The pics were taken by one of my US relatives that took a vacation to Germany in search of genealogy info...I don't think I've got copies of em here. If they've made it into our "roots book" I'll scan them in and post em.

[tigisfat]

I have no idea whether it's a a fake or not, but I do know there is an extensive market for WWII, especially nazi memorabilia, including tons of fakes of just about everything large and small. Most small pins and uniform pieces command less than 30-40 dollars, but items such as silverwar or flags can command TONS of money. There are lots of people all around the world that collect this stuff, not for any political affiliation or specific set of beliefs, but because of thegravity this stuff holds in history. There were and are so many people destroying nazi memorabilia that it's important this stuff stays around so we never forget some of the worst things that happened in the 1900s. (Wow, it feels wierd to say the 1900s)

[cheezyflier]

That is exactly what it appears to be. Either genuine or a very nice fake and since there is no expensive market for them, the odds of being a fake are practically zero.

You should attempt to determine the story behind it. Would not at all surprise me it is a badge awarded to her former husband or son, or close relative.

Ken

the woman died, and there were no relatives. all the stuff she had (most of it ordinary junk that all of us collect as we go through life) was thrown out. as i carted stuff to the dumpster, i had found this pin.
occasionally i assist my bldg super with little jobs like this and in exchange, he lets me keep stuff that interests me, and buys me pizza. i also have a 1949 television that still works. the wife wants me to throw it away, but i can't bring myself to do it, even though it has no monetary value. i was kinda hoping the pin might, but apparently not.

[Bushpounder]

Now that I see the difference, this is probably a black version.

Don

[KOM.Nausicaa]

That is exactly what it appears to be. Either genuine or a very nice fake and since there is no expensive market for them, the odds of being a fake are practically zero.

You should attempt to determine the story behind it. Would not at all surprise me it is a badge awarded to her former husband or son, or close relative.

Ken


Correction there, Ken: The market for false nazi memorabilia is huge. It's much harder these days days to find authentic stuff, since there is so much fake around. But since this was an old person, it's probably a real badge. Her husband or sun (father?) was maybe a soldier in the Wehrmacht, just as you say.

[KOM.Nausicaa]

PS: One of the best places to check this stuff is http://www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/

[ndicki]

It is a black wound badge, for one or two "non-incapacitating" wounds.

(http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Orden/vwa.html)

As far as I can see from the photo, it is a real one, and is identical to one I used to have years and years ago before copies hit the markets. It is as you might imagine relatively common, and as Ken correctly surmises above, is not worth the money it would take to make a really deceptive copy. Having said that, I have no idea of the value it might have; it is in really very good condition, in any case. Most have lost much of their paint.

Nice little piece of kit nonetheless, especially with at least some degree of provenance.

[Bushpounder]

PS: One of the best places to check this stuff is http://www.forum-der-wehrmacht.de/


Here is another GREAT place for Axis information.

http://forum.axishistory.com/

This is a great site to look at if you are interested in Third Reich history:

http://www.thirdreichruins.com/

Don

[Bjoern]

It's much harder these days days to find authentic stuff, since there is so much fake around.

With a shovel and a metal detector you will get lucky here. The best place to look would be the lakes, since many contain anything from rifles to planes to tanks.