Original Item. Only One Available. This is a German WWII Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK) Probeschwester badge, issued to a probationary nurse of the German Red Cross. The badge has an enameled front with the German national eagle and Red Cross emblem, while the reverse bears the manufacturer's marking of A. Stübbe, Berlin, together with the location SCHWERIN and the number 27.

The circular badge is made from copper-alloy metal with a black enameled outer border bearing the Gothic inscription DEUTSCHES ROTES KREUZ above and PROBESCHWESTER below, translating to "German Red Cross" and "Probationary Nurse." The white enamel center displays a black national eagle with a canted swas. on its breast, positioned above a bright red cross.

The reverse retains a horizontal safety-pin-style attachment and is stamped:

GES. GESCH.

A. STÜBBE BERLIN

The abbreviation Ges. Gesch. stands for Gesetzlich Geschützt, meaning "Legally Protected," while the second line identifies the Berlin manufacturer. Below the pin are the impressed markings SCHWERIN and 27, associating the badge with Schwerin, Mecklenburg. The number may represent an individual issue or registration number, although its precise administrative purpose has not been established.

Condition is good overall, with age-related wear and generally well-preserved central enamel. There is a conspicuous irregular gray area affecting the left portion of the black enamel border, apparently an old repair or area of enamel deterioration, which partially obscures the lettering. The reverse shows considerable patination, scratches, finish wear, and localized green oxidation. The pin assembly remains present, while the manufacturer's and location markings are legible.

Historical Context

The Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, or German Red Cross, maintained an established system of professional nursing through regional Schwesternschaften, or nursing sisterhoods. These organizations were responsible for the training, placement, and welfare of Red Cross nurses, generally operating through a central Mutterhaus, or motherhouse. The motherhouse provided a professional and administrative home for its members, overseeing their education and assignments to hospitals and other medical institutions.

The Probeschwester designation was an official stage in the DRK nursing system. Under the nursing regulations in effect during WWII, women who completed their formal nursing education and required practical service could enter a probationary period before being admitted permanently into a DRK Schwesternschaft. Qualified nurses trained outside the Red Cross organization could also be accepted as Probeschwestern.

The 1940 DRK nursing regulations prescribed a training period of eighteen months, followed by a state nursing examination and a year of practical work. A further probationary period lasting up to one year allowed the nursing sisterhood to assess the candidate's suitability for permanent membership. Final admission was subject to the decision of the Oberin, or nursing superior, and included an additional medical examination.

The regulations also established distinct service badges for the different categories of nursing personnel. Women completing their required practical year wore the Probeschwester badge, as did nurses undergoing the subsequent probationary period. Upon permanent admission, a nurse received the appropriate DRK sister's service badge and identification. These insignia therefore indicated the wearer's recognized professional standing within the organization.

During the 1930s, the German Red Cross underwent substantial administrative changes as the organization became increasingly integrated into the Third Reich's medical and military preparations. The DRK Law of December 9, 1937, and the accompanying reorganization effective January 1, 1938, established a centralized national structure under the authority of the DRK presidency. The German national eagle and swas. were incorporated into the organization's official insignia during this period.

With the outbreak of WWII in September 1939, the DRK assumed extensive responsibilities supporting the Wehrmacht medical services. Red Cross nurses worked in military and reserve hospitals, assisted with the treatment of wounded personnel, and accompanied medical transport services. Their work also extended to civilian hospitals and emergency medical care. As wartime requirements increased, the recruitment and training of additional nursing personnel became an important part of the organization's activities.

The inscription SCHWERIN is of particular historical interest. The city had a long-established Red Cross nursing tradition dating to the nineteenth century. The Mecklenburgischer Marien-Frauen-Verein, founded in Schwerin in 1880, trained nurses for civilian medical work and the care of wounded servicemen. Its nursing institution, known as the Marienhaus, developed into an important local center for professional nursing education.

A new motherhouse was inaugurated at the Schelfmarkt on September 14, 1895. During WWI, the associated Marienhaus operated as a military hospital, and in 1918 its nursing school received official state recognition. The institution subsequently came under the Mecklenburg Red Cross and continued expanding its hospital and training facilities during the interwar years.

By 1932, the Marienhaus employed 104 nurses and auxiliary nurses, together with 18 nursing students receiving practical instruction. Following the outbreak of WWII, the hospital again undertook military medical duties, operating as a reserve hospital during the conflict.