BACKGROUND: On May 2ND 1939 the Oberkommando des Heeres, (Army High Command), authorized wear of a distinctive edelweiss tradition badge by Mountain Troop personnel and design of the badge was based on a pattern worn by German Alpine troops in WWI. The badge came in three forms with a cloth version for wear on the upper right sleeve of the service uniform, a stemless metal version for wear on the visor cap and a stemmed metal version for wear on the mountain cap. Of Note: Originally regulations, unsuccessfully, dictated the edelweiss’s were to be removed from wear if an individual was transferred out of a Mountain Troop unit. On November 12TH 1944 regulations were altered to permitted continued wear of the edelweiss after transfer out of a Mountain Troop unit as long as the individual had combat experience while serving with the Mountain Troops. This stemless pattern edelweiss was to be worn on the visor cap positioned below the national eagle and above the oak-leaf wreath and national cockade.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Two piece, alloy, stemless edelweiss features eleven extended, irregular petals and a gilt washed six bulb stamen. The reverse of the badge is a mirror image of the obverse and one of the original two attachment prongs are intact.