Small Gau Baden

[Craig Gottlieb]

Does anyone have conclusive proof regarding the purpose of the small round version of the Silver Gau Baden badge? It is allegedly a badge for wear by female recipients.

[VerKuilen Ager]

While this isn't the kind of documentation you're looking for, I think the lack of proof speaks volumes. Doehle made no mention of a woman's version and Klietmann in all his digging found no evidence of such a use. The speculation about this began with Littlejohn and Dodkins who didn't connect the dots by looking at the number of other reduced sized awards intended simply for wear on civilian clothing.

[Anthony Evans]

dont know how accurate it is but in formans book it shows one

[WARLORD]

The matter of awards by the Gaus is very confused and a number of miss belives have circulated. The matter was put into some form by an order in Nov 1936, when such awards as the 1933 Nurenburg party badge was demoted to a Traditions badge. up until that time it had been held in the list of Party awards on the same terms as the 1929 badge. There are Gau badges like the Gau Westfalen - Sud that are not even mentioned in contemporary work or there after. What has been called the Gau Munchen badge and attributed to the forrunner of the Blood Order is in fact an award in its own right and was being awarded up to 1935 at lest if not until the aformentioned order. Thus I am quite sure the Round Baden badge was indeed used by females. The large miniture of the Gau badge being indeed the civil award of the large badge used on uniforms, as in the same way the Golden Party badge was worn.

[Craig Gottlieb]

Well, I don't know if it is conclusive proof, but in England recently, I discovered in the files of a friend of mine an period magazine - the title of which is unavailable, since the front cover was ripped off. My friend was using the magazine for a dagger study, but a few pages into the magazine I found a picture of a female wearing the Gau Baden pin! I couldn't believe my eyes. It doesn't prove that it was the ONLY use for the award, but it does show that women wore the piece - highly suggestive that this is what the small version of the Gau Baden was for. Also, most miniature Gau badges are the same shape as their larger originals are - the Gau Baden is shaped differently - it is round, for those of you who haven't seen one. I did show the photo to Chris, who was the 2nd person to see the picture, and confirm that it was indeed the smaller, circular Gau Baden being worn. I'll post a scan of it in a few days - I'm on a trip right now, but will be back shortly.

[Anthony Evans]

here is the pic i have from formans guide

[WARLORD]

A word of causion dealing with this badge, it is a very rare piece and a very good fake has been produce in the early 90's. Great care has to be exersised in this area.