The Allure of the Wound Badge

[Rolf D.]

For me, and I'm sure many of you, you've been asked to explain why it is that we collect militaria from WWII, specifically the Germans. Everyone is curious as to why one would want to collect the "other side's stuff". Especially when it comes to Nazi militaria. For me, I think it sums it up best by saying it is almost like the forbidden fruit of militaria items. It is kind of hard to display it when you have people who don't know much about the items over to your house and it is oftentimes seen as taboo to those people due to the Swastika and the connotations that go along with it.

For that reason, I have mainly not shown many of my friends my collection due to them most likely not understanding what it means to me and history to preserve such items. They usually get to see my American and British items if I show them anything at all. Also, many of the people my age don't really look at WWII items as interesting or cool, so it is kind of easy to see where they might not be interested in them.

For me, the really interesting part of the WWII German medals is how specific some of them were. IAB for taking part in infantry action, EKs for bravery, KVK for service related achievements etc. Winterschlacht im Osten for being in Russia and so on. But this entire forum is dedicated to one particular badge. The wound badge. Similar to the purple heart, this badge to me is quite interesting due to the different grades and many different makers and variations. The WWI issue, the 1936/Kondor Legion and then the regular 1939 model and then lastly the 1957. All in all, the badge holds many different parts of intrigue. It is a badge of decent size, which to me makes it interesting because of the "real estate" it occupies on the wearer, the different classes denoting how many times the wearer was wounded, and because it isn't what really is deemed a "sexy" award like the EKI/II or IABs or the likes. It however is a well respected award.

What are other opinions on wound badges? Is it similar or different?

[12thPanzer]

I agree and also can relate particularly to people frequently asking why I enjoy collecting "nazi stuff" as they call it. Alot of times this question is followed by...."what are you, like a secret skinhead or something" from my friends and others. (mostly aged 23-26). Like youve said, many people are not interested and cannot appreciate the history of the items we love to collect and preserve. Once I finally get to rationalizing my hobby to them, people seem to somewhat understand why it could be so intriguing. I first started collecting US items, but soon was attracted to the German's ability to make awards, insignia, uniforms, etc so proud and impressive looking. One must agree that Nazi Germany was somewhat built on propaganda which is meant to lure people into an idea....which in our case is the Idea of collecting these awesome looking items and to learn the history behind them all. I agree that the Wound Badge is firstly a great looking badge, but it also has great significance in recognizing that someone was physically/mentally wounded for his country. We all know that giving your body and life to serve your country is the ultimate sacrifice.....and I think that the wound badge reminds us of that.

[Niblet]

One thing I find interesting is how many different tones the silver badges have taken on through the years here is two of mine that have dramatically different shdea of color yet both are made by the same maker,,,,
I do tend to collect only Tombak awards now

[Niblet]

the top are 65's
the bottom are 100's

[mike y]

I agree and also can relate particularly to people frequently asking why I enjoy collecting "nazi stuff" as they call it. Alot of times this question is followed by...."what are you, like a secret skinhead or something" from my friends and others. (mostly aged 23-26).

I find it a little distressing that most people age 23-26 still associate skinheads with nazis. A true skinhead has nothing to do with nazi's or white power....... knowing is half the battle.

[Chrvip68]

Nice topic...

From my kid years and still now i always interest in history and military history, when i started collecting before 15 years ago i get the bug...
Started with Documents, WP's and SB's and lesser with medals and awards.

Why Third Reich militaria? Because they have something that others don't...

Later here on the ancient forum at late 90's i met a guy and turned one of my best buddies Javier Garcia a WB collector and finally i decide to start collect these awards...
At this time the WB wasn't in a major hunt by collectors, just an ordinary award here and there in collections, later more collectors envolved hunting and researching this award and at this time the WB collectors and funs of this award has increased rapidly and keep going...

Why WB? Because turned to be imo the #1 award in lesson for methods of construction, materials, types, hardware, variations, makers to name few!...

You don't have to brake your bank to collect them and one other important issue here it was a hard earned award, spill your blood in the front...

The 1939 WB

[12thPanzer]

I find it a little distressing that most people age 23-26 still associate skinheads with nazis. A true skinhead has nothing to do with nazi's or white power....... knowing is half the battle.

I agree. It is sad that American culture in particular relates skinheads with the thrid reich only because of the swastika! I truly wish that Skinheads had no association to the swastika as mostly all skinheads seem to have a distorted veiw of history IMO. It is just the only time you ever see the swastika in use nowadays in Amercia at least, is by skinhead type neo-nazi groups. I just think that most people dont dig deeper into history, they just say/believe what first comes to mind or what they see on the surface maybe?? But I only said that because I have had at least a few different people ask that question when they see my collection or books I read. But like I said, most people usually understand after explaining that it is all about preserving history and owning a part of a time where the world was turned upside down.


And good call CHRIS-- WB's are definitely a great award that mostly any age of collector can obtain seeing as they are usually fairly affordable and look great on display!

Nice badges Niblet! The gold ones tend to have different shades of color as well

[mike y]

I agree. It is sad that American culture in particular relates skinheads with the thrid reich only because of the swastika! I truly wish that Skinheads had no association to the swastika as mostly all skinheads seem to have a distorted veiw of history IMO.

I don't think most true skins are that nieve, as skinhead culture has a deep history itself......... it's just that neo-nazi skinheads have given the rest of them a bad reputation......... Hell, the first skins were black!!!

[12thPanzer]

I don't think most true skins are that nieve, as skinhead culture has a deep history itself......... it's just that neo-nazi skinheads have given the rest of them a bad reputation......... Hell, the first skins were black!!!

true, they are not all that nieve i guess.....but I only said there view on history is somewhat distorted in some aspects. altogether though My point was that most commonly, people will think of the neo-nazi type skinhead that praises the swastika and "seig heil's". And its unfortunate that people my age think "neo-nazi" as soon as they see a third reich collection. Thats all I was saying. Im sure people think more positive things as well, but I have gotten this remark more than once when my collection, books, and dvds had been seen. which leads me to believe that the average younger aged person does not know that much about world history or that they just dont grasp the point of our collecting hobby.

But anyway, I guess this is supposed to be mainly focused on wound badges....so I apologize if I am off topic. just wanted my statement to be clear

[juoneen]

I know for fact the wound badge , especially for many wounds , is one of the most highly prized awards by the german soldier.

We sometimes as collectors , (since we have no idea whose badge we hold), have no idea of the trauma of the wound , or traumatic experience specificly as to where and how it has been earned , or what his owner went through to earn it. It has always been a shame they didn't name them, or mark them somehow with a refernce number to be able to research. Many times its award ending in death, even though it may have not even been a gold , or a silver badge. If this had been done, prices and desireability of this badge would be through the roof. (IMO)

[12thPanzer]

Good call Juoneen. I often hold my wound badges and wonder the same thing. Especially my Gold one....wondering if some1 died and was awarded this posthumously. That would be something if they had a way to research them. I would think that wound badges SHOULD have been one of the awards that deserved your name written or inscribed into them!