Original Item: One of a Kind. A fine quality manufactured example of a Paratrooper Fallschrimjäger badge, with a lovely patinated finish overall. The basic design is a half Oak Leaf and half Laurel Leaf wreath, with a "Diving Eagle" clutching a Swas (hook cross) in the middle. The brass eagle is attached to the wreath with two fully intact rivets. It features a needle style vertical pinback with a barrel hinge, with a repaired bent metal pin catch.

The back of the eagle is maker marked JUNCKER / BERLIN S W, for the well known maker C.E. Juncker of Berlin. It looks to have been mis-struck, so "BERLIN" appears twice. This company designed and made many badges and insignia during WWII.

What really makes this example special is the personalization on the rear of the wreath and eagle. We cam make out 1945 and what looks to be MCROSSKY on the back of the wreath, and possibly R.C. I. 20520 on the back of the eagle. The markings are somewhat unclear, so that is unfortunately the best reading we have. Definitely some real potential for further research!

Really a very nice example which would make a very nice addition to any collection! Ready to display!

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.