GERMAN WW2 GOLD WOUND BADGE HOLLOW BACK , 1939. (VERWUNDETEN-ABZEICHEN-GOLD)

The oval badge depicts an embossed profile of a mobile swastika, as a M35 pattern helmet, which is above two crossed broad swords. This then lies on a pebbled field and is surrounded by a laurel leaf and berry wreath which is tied together at the bottom with a bow tie.

The pin, hinge and catch are all intact and in well-working condition. The gold wash on the front is still very good .

Most of these badges over time completely lose the wash and turn gray.

Overall this is an excellent example of a very hard to find German WW2 hollow back gold wound badge.

HISTORY :

The gold wound badge was the highest of the three classes and was awarded for five or more wounds, or if the individual was totally disabled. It was also awarded posthumously if the individual was killed in battle.

The wound badge was originally established on March 3RD 1918 by King Wilhelm II to recognise the sacrifice of those wounded during WWI. The badge was instituted in three classes, of black, silver and gold with the class bestowed reflecting the number or severity of the wounds received. On May 22ND 1939 Adolf Hitler re-instituted a slightly modified version of the wound badge with the addition of a swastika to the WWI pattern badge for award to German volunteers who had been wounded supporting the Spanish Nationalist Falangist Generalissimo Francisco Franco against the communist allied Republican Loyalist party in the Spanish Civil War. (July 1936-March 1939). With the outbreak of WWII, on September 1ST 1939.

Hitler once again re-instituted another slightly modified version of the wound badge by altering the WWI pattern helmet on the badge to the newly designed M35 style helmet. The badge was awarded to both military and uniformed non-military personnel and later, (March 1943), to civilian personnel who received wounds as a result of enemy actions.