Kriegsmarine Destroyer Badge – French Bacqueville

Product Description: A Kriegsmarine Destroyer Badge – French Bacqueville, attributed to the Parisian maker Bacqueville, executed with characteristic detail and construction. Approximately 50% of the original gold finish remains on the wreath, with pleasing contrast and honest age wear. The Destroyer retains some original finish in the recesses, and shows zinc base metal throughout more heavily at the high points.  The reverse is fitted with a banjo-style pin and features an anti-rotational hook at the top, consistent with known examples from this group.  Overall this badge rates in excellent condition.

The so-called Bacqueville theme has been widely discussed in the collecting literature. While it remains uncertain whether these badges were ever officially awarded, it is well documented that American GIs returned home with such badges following the war. It is therefore considered highly plausible that these pieces were produced in France as souvenirs, intended to meet demand for wartime bringbacks. This example conforms to the accepted characteristics of a textbook Bacqueville strike and should not be confused with later cast reproductions derived from these originals. Nevertheless, due to the unresolved nature of their official status, the Kriegsmarine Destroyer Badge – French Bacqueville is offered without lifetime guarantee, reflecting standard auction house practice for this category.

Historical Description: The Kriegsmarine Destroyer Badge (Zerstörer-Kriegsarbzeichen was a wartime decoration of the German Navy. It was officially instituted on June 4, 1940 by Kriegsmarine chief Grossadmiral Erich Raeder, and originally was awarded only to crew members of the vessels in Zerstörer-Gruppe Narvik, who met the stipulated criteria. Over the course of the wear, the regulations for awarding this badge were changed several times, expanding the range of sailors who were entitled to the award. Eventually, this badge would be awarded to crews of other destroyers as well as torpedo boats, and several battleships and cruisers that had participated in operations in Norway in 1940. The badge was designed by Paul Casberg of Berlin, and was initially produced in a brass alloy, then later in zinc. A miniature form was also produced for wear on civilian clothes.

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