Kriegsmarine Watch Officer Badge (Abzeichen des Wachhabenden Offiziers)

[John R.]

Does anyone have information on this badge's manufacturing specs? John

[George Stimson]

I don't think there's any problem with a vertical pin on these.

[François SAEZ]

All the ones I have seen had vertical pin but I was told that some exist with sprongs to be fixed on a armelband (vertical pin directly fixed on the collar of the tunic), were made by Assmann (A stylised) - beware post war ones are exactly like the wartime ones
In French, "badge pour Officier de quart" = "watch badge"

of course, I can be wrong

[Brian S]

Are the postwar marked Assmann?

[François SAEZ]

oui, same "A" style

[Brian S]

oui, same "A" style

Thank you François. Was this typical of Assmann after the war to continue manufacturing of current items utilizing their stylized 'A'? Sounds like it was...

[rhudspith]

So how do you tell a good one (pre 45) from a bad one (post 45). The only one I have seen which came from an old collection, had lost most its finish and had a large flat steel folded spring clip on the back.


Can someone post some photos of good and bad to point out the differences

Regards
Rob.

[Patrick W]

Good question, the only original ones I have seen had a very broad vertical pin.

[François SAEZ]

one worn - we can suppose it had a vertical pin

[François SAEZ]

Well, I went to my files and would like to complete what I have said before - without being able to say if they were wartime or postwar

Vertical pin, marked "A"
Vertical pin, no maker
3 sprongs, in my opnion to fix on a armelband

Now I am 100% to have read an article showing bundesmarine with the exact same badge and I am pretty sure they say it was still produce and use after the war.

In mt opinion we are facing with this badge, the same issue than the Reiter badge (for obvious reasons)

[Frank Heukemes]

Dear Francois,

Did not understand this part:

In mt opinion we are facing with this badge, the same issue than the Reiter badge (for obvious reasons)

Post war Reiterbadges never had the R in wreath, rest was the same.

[François SAEZ]

Well I guess they have used the same after the war - thanks for the correction I thought Chris had a thread some years ago that is wife (who is German) had received one probably my mistake

What I wanted to highlight is that with badge with no nazi symbol, you can use and even produce them agtef the war and that it is quiet difficult for us to say wartime or postwar

[Michel]

My contribution, a typical war time badge but no maker.

[Michel]

2

[rhudspith]

Hi michel,

From memory the one you show is very like the one I saw which had a good provenance. The only diffference being that the finish had virtually all gone being made of zinc.

Regards
Rob.