Sniper badge -- opinions appreciated

[Bob Hritz]

Jeff,

I have no problem with the sniper badges you posted. I just hate to give away all the details to the fakers.

Bob Hritz

[Jeff V]

Thanks Bob, and I hear you. One reason I never posted the pieces until this thread.
best wishes,
jeff

[quankle]

posted badges

Messrs Hritz and Robinson,

Are the badges posted by you above the HSC reproductions to which people have referred, or are the HSC reproductions yet another type of reproduction? Thank you for all of the information on this and many posts over the years.

[markus]

Sniper badge

Sniper badges were definitely awarded.

Here an official press photo of the RFSS H. Himmler awarding some to soldiers who finished 2 Soviet companies amongst them.

[markus]

Snipers

Here the awards page from Josef Weissinger's Soldbuch.

In the upper right corner note the confirmation for the "Scharfsch.Abz. III. Stufe" (Gold) for 60 or more confirmed kills.
( Confirmation signed by Bergerfurth who went on to earn the GCiGold )

Josef Weissinger got the golden badge right way, without the confirmation for 1st and 2nd grade.

The same day he got the 3.Stufe he was also awarded the EK1 (confirmed on a different page in the Soldbuch)

Soldbuch also includes entries for Cammo gear, scope, binoculares, close combat dagger, etc.

[markus]

Snipers

Snipers from the Weissinger group.

[markus]

Sniper

Another one

[Dietrich Maerz]

Since it fits nicely here some documents for the collectors data base.

Here is the description in the Doehle, Issue January 1945:

[Dietrich Maerz]

... and here is the announcement in the September 1944 issue of the Uniformenmarkt. Nothing beats the original documents. Unfortunately, both are artist's renderings.

[Dietrich Maerz]

... and for those of you who don't belive in the original German sources - especially when they are about German orders and medals and pre May 45 - here is the ultimate proof: "Handbook of the German Military Forces", 15. March 1945, War Department Technical Manual TM-E 30-451 (restricted) :

[Dietrich Maerz]

October 1944. Uniformenmark, final design:

[quankle]

more

Great information, thank you.

Was this badge the last approved design of the War, or were there later approved designs for other badges?

[Dietrich Maerz]

The last one in the Doehle was the Spange to the Westwall Medal, instituted on 10. October 1944. The badge before the sniper badge was the Ballon Badge on Juli 1944.

[Leroy]

Dietrich,
Please show us the balloon!
Leroy

[m11011963]

Hello Dietrich,

great information and very interesting.

I think that this Sniper Badges are one of the rarest.

Mike