WW2 GERMAN ARMY PARATROOPER BADGE

This is a reproduction German Army Luftwaffe Paratrooper Badge  (Fallschirmschützen-Abzeichen des Heeres) that has the swastika located at the top of the wreath and surmounted by a smaller upright eagle.

The large eagle in the centre is silver and  is surrounded by a golden laurel and oakleaf wreath.  

The Army Paratrooper Badge was instituted on September 1, 1937. Like its Luftwaffe equivalent, this badge was a qualification badge given to those that had passed the tests to become paratroopers. The same number of parachute jumps, six, had to be performed for this.

When on January 1, 1939 the Army paratrooper unit was merged with the Luftwaffe paratroopers, the Army Paratrooper Badge ceased to be awarded. Former Army paratroopers were allowed to keep wearing their Army Paratrooper Badges on their new Luftwaffe uniforms.

However, in 1943 the Army began training of another elite paratrooper unit which came to be known as the “Brandenburgers”. Therefore, the Army Paratrooper Badge was reinstated on June 1, 1943.

Marked on back:  C E JUNCKER, BERLIN SW

The badge is made of high quality tin alloy and is made as close to original as possible.