Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII early Second Pattern Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger Paratrooper Badge manufactured by Wilhelm Deumer of Lüdenscheid. Sometimes called the parachutist badge, it is a fine quality early example with a nickel silver alloy wreath, separate brass diving eagle, two intact nickel attachment rivets, and a very attractive naturally aged patina. The gold finish on the eagle remains particularly well preserved, giving the badge strong visual appeal.

The badge follows the familiar Luftwaffe parachutist design, with a half oak leaf and half laurel leaf wreath surrounding a diving eagle clutching a mobile swas. This construction, combining a nickel silver wreath with a brass eagle, is commonly referred to by collectors as the Second Pattern or Type B configuration.

The eagle is secured to the wreath by two nickel rivets, both of which remain fully intact. The reverse hardware consists of a steel needle style vertical pin, a broad brass barrel hinge, and a bent round brass wire catch. The hardware remains complete and presents consistently with the overall age and patina of the badge.

The reverse of the eagle is maker marked:

W. DEUMER
LÜDENSCHEID

This identifies manufacture by Wilhelm Deumer of Lüdenscheid, a well-known German producer of military badges and insignia. The construction and maker marking have been compared with known period examples and are consistent with recognized Deumer manufacture.

Overall condition is very good, with an appealing untouched patina across the wreath and hardware. The brass eagle retains a strong amount of its original gold finish, while the darker age toning provides excellent contrast against the nickel silver wreath. The two-piece construction, intact rivets, complete pin hardware, and clearly visible Deumer marking make this a particularly attractive example of an early Luftwaffe parachutist badge.

With its early Second Pattern construction, nickel silver wreath, brass diving eagle, intact nickel rivets, complete pin assembly, strong surviving gold finish, and clear W. DEUMER / LÜDENSCHEID maker mark, this is a desirable Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger badge with excellent collector appeal. It would display especially well in a Luftwaffe airborne, Fallschirmjäger, Deumer maker, German WWII awards, or advanced military insignia collection.

The Parachutist Badge (Fallschirmschützenabzeichen) was a badge awarded to qualified parachutists of the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS of NSDAP Germany. The badge was first established by order of Hermann Göring on 5 November 1936. It was originally awarded to Luftwaffe personnel after completion of the required number of six jumps. After this they were eligible to become a Fallschirmjäger (paratrooper).

The badge depicted a diving eagle with a swas in its claws surrounded by a silver wreath. The original construction was made of "gold-finished bronze" for the eagle and "oxidized silver plate" for the laurel leaves. In 1937, the construction of the badge changed to aluminium. In late 1942, the construction was changed again to a metal alloy. A cloth version of the badge was also authorized in 1937, to be worn on a flight jacket. A recipient had to re-qualify for the badge each year.

The term Fallschirmjäger, often written Fallschirmjaeger in English, is from the German Fallschirm "parachute" and Jäger, the light elite infantry of the Prussian army. This term was then applied to all German paratroopers. Fallschirmjäger of Germany in World War II, were the first to be committed in large-scale airborne operations. They came to be known as the "Green Devils" by the Allied forces they fought against and were some of the best trained most lethal troops of the German war machine.