Original German WWII Heer Army Anti-Aircraft Flak Battle Badge by Lind & Meyer – Solid Back Original Items

Original Items: Only One Available. This is the first example of one of these that we have had! This is a very nice German Heer Army Anti-Aircraft Flak Battle Badge (Heeres-Flak Abzeichen). These are far harder to find than the very similar Luftwaffe version.

It is a textbook example, consisting of an oak leaf wreath, with a ribbon on the bottom, and a Wehrmacht Heer eagle on the top of the badge, clutching a swas, and a Flak 88 facing towards the top right, with the barrel extending paste the badge. It looks to be made of tombak or another zinc alloy, and is a solid back design, with a maker mark in a circle of L / M. This maker mark is for Lind & Meyer of Idar-Oberstein, one of the harder to find makers. The back of the badge has a vertical needle style pin, with a barrel hinge, and a round wire catch; measuring 2.4 inches (61 mm) x 1.7 inches (43 mm); offered in very good condition. 

The details are still all there on this badge, with minimal wear, though the decorative plating has oxidized and tarnished on the badge, where it is still present. Over time the silver plate flakes off or almost “evaporates”, so this condition is typical.

A very nice example of a hard to find badge, ready to display!

The Army Anti-Aircraft Badge or Army Flak Badge (Heeres-Flak Abzeichen) was a German military decoration awarded to German Army personnel for service in an anti-aircraft battery during World War II. Designed by Wilhelm Ernst Peekhaus, it was of single piece construction. The pin back and clasp badge was grey metal in color. The badge was made in one grade; it had the national eagle at the top and an oak leaf wreath around the outside rim. In the middle was an 88 mm flak gun with the barrel facing upwards to the “viewer’s” right.

Criteria for the award came from a recommendation by commanders of the rank of General der Artillerie or above. It was awarded after the accumulation of 16 points or could also be awarded outside of the points system for an act of merit or bravery in the performance of anti-aircraft duties. If the candidates’ battery brought down an enemy aircraft then the crew members were awarded four points. If two batteries were involved then each battery received two points. Both officers and crews were eligible for the badge. The commanding officer for an anti-aircraft unit was eligible for the badge once half of his men also qualified for the badge. Unlike the similar German Air Force Anti-Aircraft Flak Battle Badge (Flak-Kampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe), points were only awarded for the downing of aircraft and not ground targets. The award was also available to searchlight crews and sound-locator crews. German Army searchlight crews and sound-locator crews which assisted in the action by detection of aircraft could be awarded one point each.