Original German WWII Luftwaffe Paratrooper Fallschirmjäger Badge by F. W. Assmann & Söhne – Missing Pin – Parachutist Badge Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is 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. It looks to be an early war example, with a gilt brass eagle attached to a silvered zinc wreath. Unlike most we see, there is still lots of the original finish present on both components, though as expected there is wear and oxidation in areas. The eagle is still attached with both of the original brass post rivets, and the main condition issue is the missing pin, which broke off at the hinge, which looks to be frozen with corrosion.

The back of the eagle is maker marked with the “barred A” trademark, of F. W. Assmann & Söhne of Lüdenscheid, a large maker of belts, buttons, and other accoutrements. They are a known manufacturer of the parachutist badge, as well as many other badges and clothing items.

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

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.

An army version (Fallschirmschützen-Abzeichen des Heeres) was later introduced (1 September 1937), with the swas relocated to the top of the wreath and surmounted by a smaller upright eagle. As with the Luftwaffe, a recipient had to re-qualify for the badge each year. In 1936, the army ordered the institution of its own parachute company, which was expanded to a battalion in 1938. When the army parachute units were transferred over to the Luftwaffe in 1939, the former army soldiers continued to wear the army version of the Parachutist badge. The Waffen-SS personnel of the 500, 501 or 502 SS-Parachute Battalions were awarded the Luftwaffe badge after they passed the jump and other test requirements

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.