Unknown...Please Help Identify

[kies99]

My boss found this in Father's stuff (he processed POW's during the war) and wants to know what it is. Can anyone identify it?

Looks to be a U-Boot passing through a gear/wheel/tire (not a wreath) with the eagle and swastika on top. Straight pin on back.

It's a straight pin on the back with a curl at top where it attaches to back. There are no markings that I can see. Has solid back and is bronze in color.

Size is approximately 1 5/16" wide by 7/8" high (1 3/8" high with the pin on the back).

[Carsten135]

hi kies99

Your badge is Leistungsabzeichen der Werftarbeiter, that means the workers on these facillitys La Pallice, Brest, Saint-Nazaire and Lorient had there own " good workers badge" to simplify it. Yours looks orig on front but we need the reverse to bee 100%sure

cheers

[kies99]

Thanks for the information. Here are a couple of pictures of the back. No markings that I can see. Also, any idea of worth? I think she may be looking to sell possibly (she's got a bunch more stuff from her dad she's keeping, just finding some loose things here and there).

[Mainemilitaria]

Kies99,
Carsten135s identification is 100% correct....

I know there are some very good repro.s of these rare pins out there....but, IMO, this one appears to be an original "1st Type- bronze" "type B" example. Front certianly compatible/decent strike....reverseside, same, except the pin is twisted around to shorten the length, probably "period done" ....but this hurts it alittle IMO. However, not that much-

Niemann's 3rd Edit. lists these for $470.00 and Forman's 3rd Edit. says $400.00

Reality is whatever the buyer will pay and the seller will take....most dealers will pay "around half to 60%"....even if buying for thier own collections....so again, IMO this should be an "easy" $200./250.00 sale....for top dollar you'll have to sell it yourself or consign it to the right "dealer/auction"- (of course, then your paying 20% or more comissions.....)

Sadly....these are often UNDER appreciated by some collectors...and again the problem of reproductions scarces off many, so there's a risk of low bids.

The "Vet. Lot" story could be very important to establishing this, and the other items in the grouping's originality/believibility.....please show anything else he's willing to share from his fathers "lot"...."we can identify things for him and he could still have a treasure or two in the pile!

John G.