September 1, 1939
To be eligible for the award of each grade, one of the following criteria must apply:
Black Wound Badge – Manufacturer L / 16 Steinhauer & Lück Lüdenscheid
Silver Wound Badge – Manufacturer 65 Klein & Quenzer A.G. Idar-Oberstein a.d. Nahe
Gold Wound Badge – Manufacturer 30 Hauptmünzamt Wien (Austria)
Production continued until the end of the war, and approximately 5 million badges – decorations were awarded.
The badges – decorations were mostly die-cast, with the black grade being die-struck, and the silver and gold grades being cast. In the case of the black grade, the material used at the beginning of the war was brass or bronze, later changing to steel. For the silver and gold grades, the material was silvered or gilded bronze or brass, later transitioning to zinc.
The Wound Badge – wound decoration was a combat decoration, and therefore it was worn both on ceremonial occasions and in a state of complete combat readiness on the battlefield. There is no substitute ribbon or similar. The official uniform placement of the badge was on the left breast pocket of the uniform, below the line of all other insignia or decorations.
The black grade of the badge – decoration was presented in a paper packet – pouch, most often in an ochre or beige color. The front side of the packet bears the name of the badge – decoration and its grade, printed in black in a Gothic style, while the back side of the packet bears the name or logo of the manufacturer, also impressed in black. The silver and gold grades of the badge – decoration were presented in a square-shaped box. Mostly black, there are also examples of dark cherry-red ones, though these are quite rare. The box is covered in artificial leather, and the lid may bear the impression of the LDO symbol. The interior of the box can be ochre, beige, white, black, or dark cherry-red. The higher grades could also be presented in a paper packet – pouch, with the name and grade of the decoration printed on it. The recipient also received an additional presentation document and an entry in the military booklet – “soldbuch.”
The Wound Badge – wound decoration features an upright oval with a laurel leaf wreath around the edges, terminating at the bottom with a bow. Inside the laurel wreath, in the center, is the distinctive German helmet “looking” to the left side. On it, there is a left-facing hooked cross. Diagonally on both sides, two swords are embedded in the helmet, pointing upwards. In the case of the black grade, the back side is incomplete; for the silver and gold grades, the back side is filled, or essentially flat. For all grades, the same pin system is used for attachment to the uniform, namely the pin system. For the two higher grades, there is also a number or manufacturer’s logo on the back, but this is not a rule. For the black grade, the manufacturer’s number or logo is usually absent, but if present, it is also on the back of the badge.
An extremely rare and special grade of the Wound Badge – wound decoration is known. This is the Wound Badge of July 20, 1944. Hitler himself established this grade on September 2, 1944, and it was received by all those who were injured or present during the assassination attempt on Hitler. The badge – decoration does not differ in shape from the others, with “20. JULI 1944” inscribed under the helmet, along with a relief signature of A. Hitler. This badge – decoration also has three grades: black, silver, and gold. Recipients received a specific grade based on the type and severity of injuries sustained during the assassination attempt. The badge – decoration is extremely rare; only 24 badges – decorations were awarded. The level of counterfeiting is very high and common, so extreme caution is required when handling this badge – decoration. Recipients of the Wound Badge – wound decoration of July 20, 1944, include: Adolf Hitler, General Heusinger, Lieutenant Colonel Korten (deceased), Colonel Brandt (deceased), General Bodenschatz, General Schmundt (deceased), Colonel Borgmann, Admiral von Puttkamer, telephone operator Berger (deceased), Captain Assmann, General Scherff, General Buhle, Admiral Voss, Lieutenant Fegelein, Colonel von Bulow, Captain Günsche, telephone operator Hagen, Lieutenant von John, Major Büchs, Lieutenant Waizenegger, Chancellor von Sonnleithner, General Warlimont, General Jodl, and Field Marshal Keitel.
Timeless-History
