Sniper's Badge

The Sniper's Badge (German: Scharfschützenabzeichen) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to snipers. It was instituted on 20 August 1944.[1] Initially, only personnel serving in the German Army and the Waffen-SS were eligible.[1] Later, by order of the High Command, it was also made available to snipers of the other armed services.[1]

Sniper's Badge
Scharfschützenabzeichen
Sniper's Badge (1st class – gold trim)
TypeBadge
Awarded forsuccesses achieved with a rifle as a sniper
DescriptionCloth
Presented by Nazi Germany
EligibilityMilitary personnel
Campaign(s)World War II
StatusObsolete
Established20 August 1944[1]

The sniper's badge had three grades:

  • Third class (no cord) for 20 enemy kills[2]
  • Second class (with silver cord) for 40 enemy kills[2]
  • First class (with gold cord) for 60 enemy kills[2]

The enemy kills were counted from 1 September 1944. Close quarter kills made were not to be taken into account. Every enemy kill had to be confirmed by witnesses and reported to the unit.

Description

The Sniper's Badge was made of greenish-gray cloth, embroidered and oval shaped. It depicts a black eagle's head turned to its left with white plumage, ochre yellow-colored eyes and closed beak. The eagle's body is covered by three oak leaves and a left mounted acorn. The edges of the ribbon are sewn and the three stages are distinguished by a circumferentially sewn cord in silver (2nd class) or gold (1st class). The badge was worn on the right sleeve of the uniform.[3]

Particularities

At the beginning of 1945, the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht issued the order that the Sniper's Badge had to be removed before being captured, after primarily Soviet troops shot every captured sniper immediately.[4]

Nazi era decorations were banned after the war. The Sniper's Badge was among those re-authorised for wear by the Federal Republic of Germany in 1957, with qualifying members of the Bundeswehr wearing the award on the ribbon bar, represented by a small replica of the badge on a field grey ribbon.[5][6]

Recipients

Notes
  1. Angolia 1987, p. 114.
  2. Angolia 1987, p. 115.
  3. Angolia 1987, pp. 114–115.
  4. Jörg Nimmergut: German medals and decorations until 1945. Volume 4. Württemberg II-German Reich. Central Office for Scientific Orders, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-00-00-1396-2, p. 2332
  5. German Federal law 1957, pp. 2–3, zweiter abschnitt.
  6. German Federal regulation 1996, p. 590 & Anlage 13: Orden und Ehrenzeichen.

References
  • Angolia, John (1987). For Führer and Fatherland: Military Awards of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 0912138149.
  • German Federal law (1957). Bundesministerium der Justiz: Gesetz über Titel, Orden und Ehrenzeichen, 26.7.1957. Bundesgesetzblatt Teil III, Gliederungsnummer 1132-1.
  • German Federal regulation (1996). Dienstvorschriften Nr. 14/97. Bezug: Anzugordnung für die Soldaten der Bundeswehr. ZDv 37/10.
  • Jörg Nimmergut: Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945. Band 4. Württemberg II-Deutsches Reich. Zentralstelle für wissenschaftliche Ordenskunde, München 2001, ISBN 3-00-001396-2.
  • Brian L. Davis: Uniformen und Abzeichen des deutschen Heeres 1933–1945. Motorbuchverlag.
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