BACKGROUND: The Flak Artillery War Badge was introduced by Hermann Göring on January 10^TH 1941, for award to air defence crews including searchlight and sound detection personnel. Originally the Flak Artillery War Badge was awarded to personnel for both aerial and ground target victories until the introduction of the Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge on March 31^ST 1942, after which the Flak Artillery War Badge was only awarded for successful aerial target victories. Bestowal of the award was originally rendered on a point structure system with sixteen points required to be presented the badge, although the criteria was modified during the war. Of Note: The Flak arm is often viewed as a secondary arm of service within the Luftwaffe when in fact during the war between half and two thirds of all Luftwaffe personnel served in it.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Two piece, die struck alloy construction, badge with a dark, burnished silver wash is in the form of a vertically oval, oak-leaf wreath with a separate, Luftwaffe style eagle, clutching a canted, swastika in it’s talons, affixed to the top center. The eagle appears to be soldered to the wreath but the reverse is not visible. The wreath encompasses the cut-out, profile of an 88mm anti-aircraft gun with the gun barrel extending beyond the edge of the wreath. The badge features nice detailing including cut-outs to the swastika’s arms and feathering to the eagle’s wings and tail. The badge retains about 90% of its dark, burnished silver wash with small spots of wear to the base alloy. The badge is mounted on a roughly, 4 5/8" tall, 3 5/8" wide, 3/4" thick, dark stained softwood base with a polished, natural aluminum plate screwed to the front center. The aluminum plate is well marked with professional applied, stamped script, "Souvenier of the campaign in Germany 1945". Nice captured, display mounted, veteran acquired badge.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $459.00