Original German NSDAP Party Enamel Membership Badge Pin by Matthias Salcher & Söhne – RZM M1/136 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice original German NSDAP (NSDAP) Party Enameled Badge Pin, RZM Marked with M1/136 (very faint), indicating it was manufactured by Matthias Salcher & Söhne of Wagstadt, part of the so-called “Sudetenland” that Germany Occupied as part of the 1938 Munich Agreement. After the war it became Bílovec in the Czech Republic. This is a somewhat rare maker, and only the second item we have had from them, the first being another NSDAP pin. Both are are somewhat unique in that they are made from magnetic steel, and not copper or zinc as with most makers.

The NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), was originally founded in Munich as the DAP, Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (German Worker’s Party), on January 5TH 1919. When Adolf AH joined the DAP in the autumn of 1919 he was to reform what was basically a debating society into an active political party. Appointed as the first chairman of the party on July 29TH 1921 AH was to restructure it along para-military lines in a hierarchy of four levels of government.

Of Note: In late 1934 items manufactured for the NSDAP and other organizations, including membership pins, came under the quality control of the RZM, Reichzeugmeisterei, (National Equipment Quartermaster) and as a result were marked with the RZM logo when appropriate. The registry was was based at the Brown house in Munich and NSDAP party headquarters in Berlin. The RZM ensured that the manufacturers of military items were consistent in design, quality of materials and other characteristics of the items. It also defined standards of design, manufacturing and quality and published an authoritative color chart for textiles. The M1 in the code stands for Metal Badges, with Matthias Salcher & Söhne of Wagstadt being contractor number 136.

This example is a standard issue membership badge, awarded to all personnel on acceptance as an official party member. It is a 24mm diameter, die struck steel badge NSDAP membership badge with multi-colored enamel work. The badge features a red, circular outer border with embossed silvered script, NATIONAL-SOZIALSTISCHE-D.A.P., encompassing a white enamel field with canted black enamel Swas (hook cross). In very good condition, with a good amount plating on the front, which looks to be nickel over a copper flash coat. The rear was only lightly plated, and now shows oxidation, which has made the markings hard to read.

The enamel is in very good shape, showing just a bit of discoloration and wear. The back has a very nice functional “safety pin” style attachment, which would work on any type of clothing.

Ready to display!