Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice original Austrian NSDAP Party Enameled Badge Pin, probably made in the early 1930s. The back has the mark GES. GESCH embossed on the bottom, which is short for Gesetzlich Geschützt (Protected By Law), indicating that the pin was a trademarked design. Below this is a B in a circle, which is not a marking that we recognize.

The NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), was originally founded in Munich as the DAP, Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (German Worker’s Party), on January 5TH 1919. When Adolf AH joined the DAP in the autumn of 1919 he was to reform what was basically a debating society into an active political party. Appointed as the first chairman of the party on July 29TH 1921 AH was to restructure it along para-military lines in a hierarchy of four levels of government.

After the NSDAP takeover in 1933, German-speaking Austria was really "next on the list", and they already had a sizable membership of the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei Österreichs – H**lerbewegung (National Socialist German Workers Party of Austria - H**ler Movement), which as it was not part of Germany proper, had its own very similar membership badges. However, unlike in Germany, power was held by the right-wing authoritarian Catholic-linked Fatherland Front, and the 1934 "July Putsch" attempt to seize power. After this, the Austrian NSDAP was suppressed until the 1938 Anschluss, and the membership badges were not work openly.

The Austrian membership badge is very similar to the German version, and was awarded to all personnel on acceptance as an official party member. It is a 24mm diameter, die struck alloy membership badge with multi-colored enamel work. It features a translucent red, circular outer border with embossed silvered "black letter" script, N.S.D.A.P. Land Öſt / H**lerbewegung, encompassing a white enamel field with a "mobile" black enamel Swas (hook cross). In very good condition, still showing some plating on the back, while the front shows a bit more wear, and some oxidation to the base metal. Overall very good condition with great enamel, and the back has a very nice "safety pin" style attachment, which would work on any type of clothing.

Ready to display!