Early Coastal Artillery Badge – Schwerin

Product Description: This early Coastal Artillery Badge is an extremely desirable, top quality variation. It’s made of Tombak, a heavy brass alloy associated with early production and fine quality pieces. The obverse shows only light wear, and great original finish. The original silvering on the artillery piece and waves is 95 percent intact, with some very minor wear to high points that exposes the base metal. The gorgeous fire gilded wreath retains original lacquer. This badge has hand-applied valuting, which gives it a wonderful three-dimensional look. The reverse of this early Coastal Artillery Badge retains nearly all of the original dark finish. The hardware setup features an attractive “Coke bottle” shaped pin, a sheet metal catch and a block hinge with a domed rivet head on the right side. The hardware is intact and functional. There is a textbook “Schwerin Berlin” manufacturer marking in raised lettering on the reverse. This scarce Kriegsmarine badge has a great look, and is in a very strong 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. 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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