Condition: Very Good
Sold
Product Description: This is a very appealing Luftwaffe Radio Operator Badge set. The badge is a late war issue example, made of zinc. The finish has evaporated, as is common for pieces struck from this alloy. The recesses on the front, as well as most of the reverse, have toned dark with age. The badge shows some wear, and the resulting bright appearance of the high points on the front, including the swastika, creates an attractive contrast. The reverse of the badge is stamped with the manufacturer marking of Wilhelm Deumer in Lüdenscheid. The hardware is intact, and retains traces of the badge’s original silver finish. The rivets for the eagle are textbook and un-messed with. Interestingly, this later badge is paired with a nice early case. The lid of the case has the designation of the badge embossed with gold leaf. There are some scratches and normal wear to the exterior. The hinge is intact and functional, but the push-button closure is broken, and these is some damage to the case near the button area where it looks like someone may have pried at it when the button got stuck. The inside lid is lined with silk, the insert upon which the badge rests features the deep blue plush that is typical for these early cases. A nice Luftwaffe Radio Operator Badge in a nice case makes for a great display piece.
Historical Description: The Luftwaffe Radio Operators Badge (Bordfunkerabzeichen) was instituted by the head of the Luftwaffe, Hermann Goering, in 1935. It featured a German eagle clutching two lightning bolts, surrounded by a wreath with the German swastika at the bottom. The badge was awarded to all Luftwaffe radio operators at the conclusion of their training, upon issue of a certificate from a flight school authorizing them to serve as radio operators. In this sense, it was a trade badge of trained radio operators, rather than being an individual award for military achievement, though it could also be issued prior to the conclusion of training by personnel who flew operational missions. With the annexation of Austria, the Luftwaffe Radio Operators Badge was also issued to Austrian radio operators taken into the German armed forces.
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