Tombak Coastal Artillery, Schwerin

Product Description: This Tombak Coastal Artillery Badge has a lot going for it. It’s a top quality, early piece, by a desirable maker, and with great character. This badge is made of Tombak, a brass alloy. The obverse has a great, uncleaned look, with honest wear from use. Most of the original chemical darkening is present on the gun emplacement at the center of the badge, with wear to high points that reveals the base metal. On the outer wreath and German national eagle and swastika emblem, most of the original gilt finish is gone, exposing the gold-colored Tombak; some original finish is still present in the recesses. The reverse of this Tombak Coastal Artillery Badge is nicely maker marked, with “Schwerin Berlin” in raised lettering. The hardware setup is textbook for this maker, with a block hinge, banjo pin, and sheet metal catch. The hardware is functional, and shows no sign of repair. Some traces of wear to the pin suggest this piece was very likely worn on a uniform. This attractive Kriegsmarine badge is a really nice example. It’s in excellent condition.

Historical Description: The Kriegsmarine Coastal Artillery Badge (Kriegsabzeichen für die Marineartillerie) was instituted on June 24, 1941, by Kriegsmarine leader Grossadmiral Erich Raeder. The purpose of the badge was to recognize the successes of the Kriegsmarine coastal artillery and anti-aircraft units, and it was authorized to be awarded to entire units as well as individual soldiers. The design of the badge, which was created by Otto Placzek, featured a coastal artillery gun, with the sea behind, surrounded by a wreath and surmounted by the German national eagle and swastika emblem. The award criteria for this badge were complex and in part based on a points system. Various achievements, such as being part of a crew to shoot down a plane, successfully deploying searchlights, or successfully using radar, were assigned values of between 0.5 and 2 points, with 8 points being needed to earn the badge. The badge could also be rewarded for exceptional personal achievements in combat, or for leadership, and it could also be awarded posthumously. Starting in 1943, the award could also be earned by Kriegsmarine gun crews who destroyed enemy tanks or ships.

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