Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Blockade Runner Badge, or Blockadebrecherabzeichen, manufactured by C. Schwerin & Sohn of Berlin and designed by Otto Placzek. It is a circular silver plated zinc alloy badge measuring approximately 1.92" or 48.8 mm across, with the full designer and maker markings on the reverse.

The obverse depicts a large merchant ship forcing its way through heavy waves and breaking a surrounding chain near the bottom of the badge. A large German eagle clutching a mobile swas appears on the stern of the vessel. The circular border is formed by silvered chain links, with the ship shown breaking through them at the lower edge. The imagery symbolized merchant vessels and crews that succeeded in passing through or evading an enemy blockade.

The reverse is plain apart from the attachment hardware and the following raised markings:

FEC. OTTO PLACZEK BERLIN
AUSF. SCHWERIN-BERLIN

Fec. is an abbreviation of Fecit, Latin for "He made it", which identifies Otto Placzek of Berlin as the designer. Ausf. is an abbreviation of Ausführung, indicating execution or manufacture by Schwerin of Berlin.

The badge is fitted with a barrel hinge, magnetic tapered pin, and bent flat wire catch. The construction and hardware configuration correspond with other recognized examples produced by C. Schwerin & Sohn.

The badge was originally silver plated over zinc alloy. Most of the original finish has either oxidized or worn away, leaving the darker gray zinc surface visible across much of the obverse and reverse. These badges were originally finished with much of the design darkened while the eagle remained brighter in contrast. Zinc was not particularly effective at retaining applied finishes, and substantial loss or oxidation is frequently encountered on surviving examples. The plated steel attachment hardware has retained its silver finish more completely than the zinc body.

Overall condition is very good. The badge shows light wear and substantial age-related finish loss, but the ship, waves, eagle, chain border, and maker markings remain well defined.

With its full Otto Placzek designer marking, C. Schwerin & Sohn manufacturer marking, correct zinc construction, matching barrel hinge and tapered pin assembly, and sharply retained maritime design, this is a desirable example of the German WWII Blockade Runner Badge. The oxidized zinc surface, largely absent silvering, and light wear are fully disclosed. It would display particularly well in a German naval and merchant marine award, C. Schwerin & Sohn, Otto Placzek, blockade running, or advanced WWII badge collection.

The Blockade Runner Badge or the Badge for Blockade Runners (German: Abzeichen für Blockadebrecher) was a World War II German military decoration awarded for service on warships or merchant vessels that attempted to break through the British sea blockade of Germany. It was instituted on 1 April 1941 upon the order of Adolf H and first awarded on 1 July of the same year to Hugo Olendorff.

Design
The badge was designed by Otto Placzeck in Berlin. It was in either tombac or zinc and featured a ship with a large German eagle grasping a swas (hook cross) on its bow. Around the circumference of the badge is a chain, through which the ship is cutting through. The eagle was silvered whilst the rest of the badge was a dark gray color.

The badge was worn on the left breast pocket of the uniform. A smaller half-size version was awarded for use by civilians and members of the merchant marine.