Cased Luftwaffe Paratrooper Badge by GWL

German WWII > Awards and Medals > Luftwaffe Awards > Paratrooper Badge

Here we have a Cased Type C Fallschirmschützenabzeichen der Luftwaffe by Gebruder Wegerhoff, Lüdenscheid! The Luftwaffe Paratrooper Badge was awarded to those who had successfully completed the paratrooper training course, consisting of physical and psychological tests along with six qualifying parachute jumps. The two-piece construction badge features a die struck tombak based and fire gold gilded eagle with a die struck zinc based silver washed wreath. The oval shaped obverse depicts a diving Luftwaffe eagle, clutching a swastika within its talons, and is above by a blackened half laurel leaf and berry, half oak leaf and acorn wreath. The reverse is maker marked “GWL” and displays the correct; integral hinge, integral catch, steel round wire pin and two recessed tombak rivets. It measures approximately 1 5/8 inches wide by 2 1/8 inches high. Beautiful gilded mirror like swastika and detail throughout! The award comes housed in the appropriate GWL attributed case. The case is constructed out of a wood and pressed cardboard base that is covered in a simulated grained blue ‘alligator skin’ leather. To the front is a gilded steel ornate clasp. To the back is a gilded steel, staggered, piano hinge. To the very top in the gilded Gothic style script it reads: “Fallschirmschützen = Abzeichen”. The interior-bottom of the case is constructed out of a pressed cardboard base that is covered in a light blue fibrous felt material that outlines the pin, hinge and catch assembly. The interior top is covered in that same light blue fibrous felt. The interior hinge has torn as a great majority of these have. There is a scuff to the very top. The case measures approximately 3 3/16 inches wide and deep and 15/16 of an inch thick. A great assembly, a gorgeous display piece!