Original Item: Only One Available. 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 aluminum. 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.

This is a great example of the Luftwaffe jacket version, made of blue-gray wool with gold and silver embroidery. The badge measures 2 3/8"H x 2"W, and is in very good condition. It has no moth damage that we can see, and looks to be unissued, never having been attached to a uniform. The colors are still mostly bright, though there is a bit of staining on the more raised areas of the embroidery at the top, most likely from storage. This badge will make a colorful addition to any collection.

Fallschirmjäger (often written Fallschirmjaeger in English; is from the German Fallschirm "parachute" and Jäger, the light elite infantry of the Prussian army) were 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.