Wound Badge

From Freepedia

Image:Black version.jpg Image:Silver version.jpg Image:Gold version.jpg Wound Badge (Das Verwundetenabzeichen) is a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organisations (after March 1943 due to the increasing number of allied bombings — also for civilians). First instituted during the first world war it existed in three versions: black for one or two times wounded by hostile action or air raid, or frost-bite in the line of duty, silver for three or four times wounded, loss of a hand, foot or eye via hostile action (also partial loss of hearing), facial disfigurement or brain damage via hostile action and gold (can be awarded posthumously) for five or more times wounded, total blindness or severe brain damage via hostile action. They exist in pressed steel, brass and zinc as well as pure base metal privately commissioned versions. Those of the first world war were also produced in a cutout pattern.

All versions of the Wound Badge were worn on the lower left breast of the uniform or tunic. The Badge was worn below all other awards worn on the left breast, if any were present. It's assumed that upwards of 5 million were likely awarded during World War II. Post WW2 the nazi swastika needed to be removed (for example by grinding) in order for the badge to be worn in public. In 1957 the Wound Badge was again authorised for wear but without the Nazi swastika emblem. The first world war version is shown in the illustration of the gold badge.