Wehr Wolf????

[Brian L.]

Although, there's no skull, it seems it might be Wehr Wolf.

Sergeant08, opinions???

[Sergeant 08]

I have never seen this patch before. Leipzig is in Sachsen. In this part of Germany you could find many Wehrwolf activities. The red "W" can give you the first impression, it could have a relationship to the Wehrwolf. But if you look carefully a second time, you can see differences to the style of "W" that was used by the Wehrwolf. Especially the top of the "W" looks different.

What could it be? I see crossed flags. Signal flags? I remember in the Imperial German army existed arm badges with crossed flags for signal flags. Winker Abzeichen! Perhaps the meaning of the "W" is Winker? A civil Winker sleeve badge from the Weimar period?

[Sergeant 08]

Has somebody any other thoughts about it?

[Brian L.]

Despite the 'W' being different from the Wehr Wolf logo and there being no skull, the fact that it's red on a black patch (like the Wehr Wolf) and that one of the flags is black (like the Wehr Wolf), leads me to suspect that it is Wehr Wolf.

[mchap]

The W does seem to have differences. I have a couple Wehrwolf stamps that display a Script style W, although I am not 100% sure of authenticity they do hold up against some early TR stamps I have (paper, ink, and print quality). Perhaps the variations can be attributed to the early days of the groups existence?

[Sergeant 08]

One of my main problems with this badge is, that there is no skull and no Wolfsangel. Wehrwolf members were proud about the skull symbol. The skull showed, they were ready to die for their ideas. That's the reason why they normally showed skull and "W" always together.

Only the Wehrwolf women (Operfergruppen) and the youth (Jungwolf) did not use the skull. But they used the red "W" in combination with the Wolfsangel.

This badge has no skull and no Wolfsangel. Only a red "W", the flags and the lettering of Leipzig. Ok, one flag is black. But the other? Blue und yellow. These are not the colors of Sachsen. It should be a green/white flag.

PS: I have seen a similar badge with crossed flags and similar colors. But it was a cap badge from the Stahlhelmbund Braunschweig. Flags with Braunschweig colors and colors of the Reich.

[mchap]

A good point regarding Wehrwolf symbolism.

Perhaps the patch a try on the Imperial forum in case someone has seen similar? I could be wrong, but the Leipzig text styling feels earlier than Weimar.

[Sergeant 08]

...... I have a couple Wehrwolf stamps ......

Can we see pictures?

[mchap]

You actually posted one in your Wehrwolf thread, with the script "W".



So we don't derail this thread I'll post the other two in your thread.

[Brian L.]

Only a red "W", the flags and the lettering of Leipzig. Ok, one flag is black. But the other? Blue und yellow. These are not the colors of Sachsen. It should be a green/white flag.

The blue and yellow flag is the flag of Leipzig.

It's possible that this badge is a hat badge or sleeve badge of the Deutscher Wehrverein, which was the umbrella Veteran's organization formed in 1912 to promote the expansion of the army. They had a heavy presence in Leipzig, according to research. They rapidly lost members after 1918 and disbanded in 1935.

My only hesitation about this is the lack of an imperial or royal crown on the badge.

[Brian L.]

Since it's 10 cm by 7 cm, it's safe to say it's a sleeve badge, whatever the organization.