K15354 BLOCKADE RUNNER'S BADGE. (Abzeichen für Blockadebrecher) 

BACKGROUND: The Blockade Runner’s badge was instituted by Adolf Hitler on April 1^ST 1941 for award to Naval personnel and Merchant marines who met specific criteria, the most important being returning a ship to Germany after running an enemy blockade. 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Later production, die struck, solid backed, zinc alloy construction badge with both bright and a burnished silver finishes. The circular badge features the forward profile of a merchant ship with a large stylized national eagle figurehead clutching a canted swastika in its talons, encompassed by embossed stylized chain links. The bow of the ship is breaking the encompassing chain links at the bottom of the badge symbolizing running the enemy blockade. The badge is nicely detailed including cut-outs to the eagles wings and recessed "windows" on the ships bridge deck. The badge has lost both its bright and burnished silver finishes and has reverted to the flat matte grey of the base zinc alloy with some minor oxidization spotting. The reverse has a solid, soldered hinge, a broad, tapering vertical pin and a heavy soldered catch all intact. The reverse is well marked with the embossed designers name, "Fec. Otto Placzek Berlin", and the partially legible manufacturers name "Ausf. Schwerin Berlin".

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

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

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