Original German WWII Kriegsmarine Minesweeper War Badge by Rudolf Karneth – Early Bronze Construction Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a great early example of the German WWII Kriegsmarine Minesweeper War Badge, made from bronze alloy, used on some other WWII awards. Later Tombak and zinc alloys would be used. The badge is in very good condition, with a functioning pin back, and still retains most of the plating on the “splash” and the back, with the wreath an eagle showing much original gilding, with areas worn through to the bronze.

The front design consists of an oval oak leaf wreath, topped by a Wehrmacht eagle clutching a mobile swas, with a central depiction of an exploding mine on top of detailed waves. The reverse is solid, with a standard pinback attachment, and the pin catch is currently bent over, which we have left in place to avoid potentially damaging it further.

It is maker marked on the top of the “splash” with R.K., for Rudolf Karneth of Gablonz, which today is Jablonec nad Nisou in the Czech Republic. During WWII it was considered part of the “Sudetenland”, and after the war most of the German population was expelled.

A very nice example of a hard to find award!

The Minesweeper War Badge or Minesweepers, Sub-Chasers and Escort-Vessel War Badge (Kriegsabzeichen für Minensuch-, U-Boot-Jagd- und Sicherungsverbände) was instituted on August 31, 1941 by Kriegsmarine leader Grossadmiral Erich Raeder. The purpose of this award was to recognize the achievement and experience of the sailors on the German Navy’s minesweeper vessels. In this unnerving duty, sailors faced exposure to the elements as well as constant danger from mines, submarines, and airplanes.

The Minesweeper Badge features a representation of an exploding sea mine, surrounded by a wreath and surmounted by the German national eagle and swas emblem. It was designed by Otto Placzek and was made in bronze, tombak, and zinc, with most later examples being the zinc type. The award could be ordered by leaders of minesweeper boats, patrol boats, and special units, and by superior Kriegsmarine commands. To qualify for this badge, a sailor had to make three operational sorties, be wounded on a sortie, show exemplary conduct over a six-month period, participate in an especially dangerous mission, serve on escort duty for 25 days or more, or be on a ship that was sunk by enemy action- the badge could be awarded posthumously.