SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION

K009162 MINESWEEPER'S WAR BADGE. (Kriegsabzeichen für Minensuch-U-Boat-Jagd, und Sicherungsverbände)

BACKGROUND: The Minesweeper’s war badge was instituted on August 31ST 1940 by Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine und Großadmiral, (Commander in Chief of the Navy and Grand Admiral), Erich Raeder for award to personnel serving on minesweepers, sub-chasers, and escort vessels who met the prescribed requirements. The main prerequisite for bestowal of the badge was participation in three operational sorties. At the end of WWI the Germans still had roughly one hundred active Minesweepers and starting in the mid-1930's the Germans began development of new Minesweepers to replace the antiquated WWI types. The Germans developed three basic models of Minesweepers, prior to and during WWII, with minor modifications to each. The first type, the M35, was developed in 1935 and roughly sixty-nine were produced between 1937 and 1941, followed by the second type, designated M40, with roughly one hundred twenty-seven being produced between 1941 and 1944. The final type, designated M43 was produced in four, slightly different, configurations but only about eighteen were produced by the end of the war. Of Note: At the conclusion of WWI articles of the Treaty of Versailles dictated that the German Minesweeper fleet assist the Allies in clearing German and Allied mines off the Northern European coast, before most were turned over to the victorious Allies. Of the roughly two hundred fourteen new models, (M35, M40, M43), produced, roughly ninety-eight were sunk during the war and one hundred three were turned over to the Allies at the end of the war leaving Germany with only a token fleet of roughly thirteen vessels.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 2 1/8", (5.4 cm), tall, 1 3/4", (4.5 cm), wide, die struck, zinc alloy construction badge with gilt, frosty silver and dark, burnished grey washes, is in the form of a gilt washed, vertically oval, oak-leaf wreath with a national eagle, with outstretched wings, clutching a canted swastika in it’s talons, superimposed to the top center, encompassing a frosty silver washed, cut-out, vertical, exploding, water funnel and dark, burnished grey washed, horizontal waves. As is typical with the zinc alloy produced badges only slight hints of all three washes remain and the badge has mostly reverted to the flat matte grey of the base zinc alloy. The reverse of the badge has a soldered, solid block, type hinge on a rectangular base plate, a broad, tapering, vertical pin and a heavy, soldered "C" catch on a circular base plate all intact. The badge has no visible manufacturer’s markings.

GRADE ***1/4                             PRICE $125.00

To Order this item, please use one of the two e-mail addresses below to contact us. Please make sure to quote the item number in your e-mail

MILITARIA WANTED!  If you have items for sale, please contact us. We specialize in selling single pieces and entire collections. Over 3 decades in the business and we do all the work for you. Get the best return for your investment.

-E-Mail Address pawmac@nbnet.nb.ca  Or  guild@nb.aibn.com

To return to the main page please CLICK below

HOME (CLICK HERE)