Gold Wound Badge, Marked 30

Product Description: This Gold Wound Badge is made of zinc, and likely dates from some time after the midpoint of the war. As is often the case with these wartime zinc awards, the base metal interacted with the finish over time, resulting in the badge reverting to the gray color of the zinc. On the reverse, the pin, as well as the pin in the hinge that keeps the attachment pin in place, are made out of a different metal, which has retained the finish and reveals that this badge is a Gold grade. The obverse shows some wear, but retains crisp pebbling. The bare zinc is mostly clean, with a bit of patina and tiny traces of the original finish in the recesses of the pebbled fields. The reverse is flat, and is maker marked with the Präsidialkanzlei supplier number “30” indicating manufacture by the desirable maker Hauptmünzamt Wien (the Vienna Mint). The hinge and cast are integral to the badge, as is correct for this variant, and the gold-finished pin remains functional. The Gold Wound Badge is much more scarcely encountered than the lower grades. This one is excellent.

Historical Description: The German Wound Badge was instituted during the First World War to recognize those wounded in the conflict. It was designed using a World War One style Imperial German helmet as the main motif. The helmet was set on top two crossed swords against a pebbled background and surrounded by a laurel leaves wreath.

During the Spanish Civil War, the Third Reich reinstated the Wound Badge for a short period to honor those who were wounded during the conflict from 1936 to 1939. These German units participating in the assistance of the Spanish Fascists were deemed the “Condor Legion”. The pattern of the World War One Wound Badge was again used, except this time with a raised swastika on the center of the World War One era helmet.

At the outbreak of war in September 1939 with Poland, Adolf Hitler once again reinstated the Wound Badge Award. Again, the pattern of the badge was similar to that of the earlier style except the new design was freshened up a bit by using an M35 pattern German helmet and a slightly softer looking wreath. This pattern was used until the end of the war in 1945. It is impossible to know the exact numbers of wound badges awarded during the course of the Second World War due to the vast scale and countless individuals who were wounded or killed in the conflict.

The Wound Badge Awards came in three different types of grades representing the amount, or severity, of wounds received. The first grade, the Black Wound Badge was awarded for 1 to 2 wounds received in combat. The Silver Grade was awarded for 3 to 4 wounds, and finally the Gold Grade for 5 or more wounds, total disability, or death.

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