BACKGROUND: The Minesweeper’s war badge was instituted on August 31^ST 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 award was participation in three operational sorties.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Die struck, alloy construction badge with gilt, silver and grey washed finishes. The badge 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 grey washed, horizontal waves and a silver washed, cut-out, vertical, exploding, water funnel. The gilt finish to the wreath and eagle are retained about 50%, while only hints of the grey wash to the waves and the silver wash to the water funnel are retained. The reverse of the badge has a crimped, soldered, hinge, inset into a small recess with raised retaining lips, a thin, round, vertical pin and a crudely, post-war, re-soldered catch all intact. The badge has no visible manufacturer’s markings.

GRADE **3/4                             PRICE $119.00