july wound badge question

[chris clark]

can some one educate me in how many made and where are they today. reason being i went to the imperial war museum in london last week with my very understanding girlfriend and saw one on display

[Al P]

I belive that there were 24 awarded to those that were injured in the bomb attack on Hitler July 20th 1944. There might have been 1 or 2 more given out but that remains speculation.

As to there whereabouts, I am not sure but like all awards some remain with the families and others are in museums and collectors hands. THe IWM I believe does have one on display, its suthenticity I do not know.

Al

can some one educate me in how many made and where are they today. reason being i went to the imperial war museum in london last week with my very understanding girlfriend and saw one on display

[Patrick W]

Thought I'd add a curiousity to this discussion as July 20th 1944 wound badges appear to be the hot topic of the moment.

During the late 60s my mother au pered Karl Bodenschatz's grandchildren and got to know the old Luftwaffe General (and former adjutant to the Richthofen squadron) on a personal basis. He even asked her to act as his personal assistant in the compilation of his memoires. She declined (I wish she hadn't!) probably because the old devil was trying to get his (wooden) leg over!

For those who don't know, the Luftwaffe Chief of Staff was awarded all three grades of the badge after having his leg blown off by Stauffenberg's bomb. I believe that they are still in the possession of the family.

[Robin Lumsden]

can some one educate me in how many made and where are they today. reason being i went to the imperial war museum in london last week with my very understanding girlfriend and saw one on display

Chris.
The one in the IWM's a copy, marked 'L/12'. It looks good in the case, though.
The museum bought it from the estate of a deceased American collector in the '70s.
Not everything in the IWM is what it seems - just look at the old Pia books.
But it's still a VERY nice museum!!
Regards,
Robin.

[Pieter Verbruggen]

A difficult one to answer.

It is believed the firm of C.E.Junker made around 100 20 Juli badges.

My believe is that the actual ceremony pieces were marked 800 2.
Sure the recipients were allowed to buy retail pices which were marked L/12 800.
I know some one will pup up with the Voss-story but these are my opinions.

800 2 types are rarer than L/12 800 marked ones.
A total of 100 pieces seemes resonable to me.
Pieter.

[chris clark]

thanks all very interesting

[nellyp51]

Interesting