Original Item. Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Silber, or 1939 Wound Badge in Silver. The oval badge displays the standard wartime design of a German steel helmet bearing a central swas. over crossed swords, surrounded by a laurel wreath and set against a finely stippled background. The badge retains a silver-colored finish over what appears from the exposed areas and reverse oxidation to be a non-ferrous copper-alloy base.

The reverse is plain and fitted with a vertical pinback assembly consisting of an upper hinge, long round-wire pin, and lower catch. No manufacturer name, numerical maker code, or other identifying mark can be found, so the producer cannot be responsibly attributed.

Condition is good overall, showing honest age and wear. Much of the original silver-colored finish survives, although the raised helmet, wreath, swords, and other high points display considerable rubbing and toning. The recessed stippled field remains darker and provides strong contrast to the relief. The reverse has developed substantial dark patination and scattered oxidation, including localized green verdigris around the lower catch area, while the complete pin, hinge, and catch remain present.

Historical Context

The 1939 Wound Badge was formally instituted on September 1, 1939. The founding decree established three grades based principally on the number of qualifying wounds or injuries: Black for one or two, Silver for three or four, and Gold for more than four. Earlier wounds for which a Wound Badge had already been awarded could also be counted toward the wartime grade.

The decoration deliberately continued the form of the German Army Wound Badge introduced during the First World War. The 1939 decree specifically stated that the new badge was to follow the earlier Army design, with the principal visual alteration being the addition of the swas. to the steel helmet. This retained the familiar oval wreath, helmet, and crossed-sword composition while adapting the badge to the insignia system of the wartime German state.

The Silver grade represented an intermediate level within the three-class system and ordinarily reflected repeated qualifying wounds rather than a different branch of service or type of combat duty. Consequently, the silver finish of the present badge identifies its award grade but does not establish anything about the recipient's rank, unit, service branch, or theater of operations. Without accompanying documents or a named provenance, no specific recipient history can be assigned to this example.

The badge was prescribed for wear on the left breast of the uniform. Its pinback construction allowed it to be attached directly to the tunic rather than suspended from a ribbon, making it a permanent and readily visible indication that the wearer had received a recognized wartime wound award.

The Wound Badge was fundamentally an injury-recognition decoration rather than a campaign award. Its grade reflected the recipient's officially recognized wound history under the applicable regulations, and the same basic three-grade structure remained central to the system throughout the war. Modern German law still specifically references the September 1, 1939 decree when defining the historical grades of the Second World War Wound Badge.