Silver Wound Badge – 100 Wächtler & Lange

Product Description: This is a nice, Silver Wound Badge – 100  by Wächtler & Lange, in excellent+  condition. As is typical for later production 1939 wound badges of this grade, it is made of zinc alloy. The base metal was finished with a heavy silver plate, virtually all of which is retained on this example. The original silver finish on this Silver Wound Badge – 100 has some attractive, dark age toning, that adds contrast and a look of depth. The obverse has a lot of detail and shows very little actual wear. The reverse retains nearly all of the finish. On top of the catch is maker marked “100” for Wächtler & Lange.  The hardware setup is intact and functional, with a straight, round wire pin, and a sheet metal catch. This Silver Wound Badge – 100 is a high quality piece, and a great representative example of this type.

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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