George F. Tagliapietra Collection, 1933-1945 | Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust

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Collection of Folder-Level RG-115.03: Nazi memorabilia, 1933-1945

Nazi uniform items, including both military and civilian items. Items include: 1939 Wound Badge (black), Iron Cross 1st Class with L/11 manufacturer marking on back(Wilhelm Deumer), (2) SA Sports Badge, Wehrmacht Army belt buckle with IKA41 manufacturer marking on back(Julius Kremp Ludenscheid), and fabric breast eagle.

Arrangement: This collection is arranged to the item-level.

Extent: 1 belt buckle, 4 medals, 1 cloth patch

Language of Materials: German

Subject/Index Terms:

Nazi-German insignias

Nazi-German decorations, medals and awards

Military Uniforms (Nazi-German)

Creators:

Wehrmacht (German Army) (1939--1945)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 1: RG-115.03.01, 1939 Wound Badge (black), 1939-1945

The wound badge was awarded to members in the Reichswehr, the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War. After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied bombings, it was also awarded to wounded civilians in air raids. It was awarded when the wound was the result of enemy hostile action, with an exception being for frostbite.

The badge had three classes: Black (3rd class, representing Iron), for those wounded once or twice by hostile action (including air raids). Silver (2nd class) for being wounded three or four times.Gold (1st class, which could be awarded posthumously) for five or more times wounded.The "progression" could be waived in the event of loss of a limb or eyesight; when such a severe wound occurred, the silver badge was awarded.

Badges were made of pressed steel, brass and zinc. All versions of the Wound Badge were worn on the lower left breast of the uniform or tunic. The badge was worn below all other awards on the left. It ranked lower than combat badges. There were 24 approved manufacturers of the Wound Badge. At first, the Wound Badge in Black was stamped from sheet brass, painted semi-matte black with a hollow reverse pin back attachment or of solid construction. From 1942, steel was used to make the badges.

Arrangement: Item-level badge

Extent: One badge

Subject/Index Terms:

Nazi-German insignias

Black Wound Badge

Nazi-German decorations, medals and awards

Military Uniforms (Nazi-German)

Creators:

Government of Nazi Germany (1933--1945)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 2: RG-115.03.02, Iron Cross 1st Class medal, 1939-1945

Iron Cross 1st class with manufacturer markings on reverse. Manufacturer marking is "L/11" denoting it was made by Wilhelm Deumer  of Lüdenscheid. The 1939 Iron Cross 1st class was instituted on September 1, 1939.  It measured 43.5mm to 45mm.  Since it was a breast badge, it was void of design on the reverse with the possible exception of the silver content number or manufacturer's code.  In the latter case, the marking was either found on the pin shaft or on the flat surface of the cross itself.   No markings were ever fixed on the obverse of the cross. To receive this award, an individual had to accomplish three to five acts of bravery beyond the normal fulfillment of duty. The 1939 Iron Cross 1st Class was awarded with a presentation case, accompanied by an award document. Approximately 300,000 Iron Cross 1st class and 1939 Bar to the Iron Cross 1914 1st class were awarded before the war's end.  Approval for the award of the Iron Cross 2nd and 1st Classes was delegated down to the Corps Commanding General. The Iron Cross 1st Class was worn centered on the left breast pocket, and took precedence over all other awards worn on the left breast other than those conferred with diamonds.

Arrangement: Item-level medal

Extent: one medal

Subject/Index Terms:

Nazi-German decorations, medals and awards

Military and Civil decorations, medals and insignias

Iron Cross

Iron Cross medallion (Nazi-Germany)

Military Uniforms (Nazi-German)

Creators:

Government of Nazi Germany (1933--1945)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 3: RG-115.03.03, SA Sports Badge (bronze), 1933-1945

SA Sports Badge (bronze) with manufacturer and other markings stamped on reverse. Manufacturer marking is "W.REDO, SAAR LAUTERN". Other markings are "EIGENTUM D. OBERSTEN S.A. FUHRUNG" The SA Sports Badge was a decoration of Nazi Germany that was issued between the years 1933 and 1945. It was a political version of the much more generic German Sports Badge, which was also issued in great numbers by the Nazis. At its center was a 57mm high Roman broad sword, superimposed over a Nazi swastika. It was encircled by an wreath of oak leaves. It was a pin-back badge. There was a cloth version, as well. The SA Sports Badge was instituted on 28 November 1933 by then SA chief Ernst Röhm. It was originally only issued in bronze through the year 1935. The on 15 February 1935, Hitler decreed that the badge be officially recognized. It was thereafter issued in three grades (bronze, silver, and gold). No longer was the physical fitness badge to be awarded only to SA members, but to youth of all German military and paramilitary organizations. Originally the badge grade was awarded on degrees of "proficiency". Then in 1936, a points system was established. In 1937, the requirement for the holder of the award was upgraded. Each recipient had to pass an annual proficiency test to retain the badge. On 19 January 1939, Hitler changed the name of the badge from SA-Sportabzeichen (SA Sports Badge) to SA-Wehrabzeichen (SA-Military Defense Badge). Hitler challenged all able-bodied boys age 16 and up to compete for the award. Older military men were also encouraged to obtain it. The badge was one of the few political decorations that the armed forces allowed to freely be displayed on a military uniform. By December 1936, one million had been awarded. Then by the end of 1943, over 2.5 million had been awarded.

Arrangement: Item-level badge

Extent: One badge

Subject/Index Terms:

Nazi-German decorations, medals and awards

Military Uniforms (Nazi-German)

Nazi-German insignias

Creators:

Government of Nazi Germany (1933--1945)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 4: RG-115.03.04, SA Sports Badge (silver), 1933-1945

SA Sports Badge (silver) with manufacturer and other markings stamped on reverse. Manufacturer marking is "W.REDO, SAAR LAUTERN". Other markings are "EIGENTUM D. OBERSTEN S.A. FUHRUNG" The SA Sports Badge was a decoration of Nazi Germany that was issued between the years 1933 and 1945. It was a political version of the much more generic German Sports Badge, which was also issued in great numbers by the Nazis. At its center was a 57mm high Roman broad sword, superimposed over a Nazi swastika. It was encircled by an wreath of oak leaves. It was a pin-back badge. There was a cloth version, as well. The SA Sports Badge was instituted on 28 November 1933 by then SA chief Ernst Röhm. It was originally only issued in bronze through the year 1935. The on 15 February 1935, Hitler decreed that the badge be officially recognized. It was thereafter issued in three grades (bronze, silver, and gold). No longer was the physical fitness badge to be awarded only to SA members, but to youth of all German military and paramilitary organizations. Originally the badge grade was awarded on degrees of "proficiency". Then in 1936, a points system was established. In 1937, the requirement for the holder of the award was upgraded. Each recipient had to pass an annual proficiency test to retain the badge. On 19 January 1939, Hitler changed the name of the badge from SA-Sportabzeichen (SA Sports Badge) to SA-Wehrabzeichen (SA-Military Defense Badge). Hitler challenged all able-bodied boys age 16 and up to compete for the award. Older military men were also encouraged to obtain it. The badge was one of the few political decorations that the armed forces allowed to freely be displayed on a military uniform. By December 1936, one million had been awarded. Then by the end of 1943, over 2.5 million had been awarded.

Arrangement: Item-level badge

Extent: One badge

Subject/Index Terms:

Nazi-German decorations, medals and awards

Nazi-German symbols, signs and insignia

Creators:

Government of Nazi Germany (1933--1945)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 5: RG-115.03.05, Wehrmacht Army(Heer) belt buckle, 1940-1945

1940 pattern, stamped steel construction, combat box buckle features a smooth outer field with a high relief, embossed Wehrmacht eagle with down swept wings, clutching a canted swastika in it's talons, to the slightly domed center, encompassed by an oak-leaf cluster to the bottom and script, "Gott Mit Uns", (God With Us), to the top. The oak-leaf cluster and script are on a ribbed background and are encircled by both an inner and outer simulated twisted rope border. The reverse of the buckle is a mirror image of the obverse and the brazed buckle catch, prong bar and prongs are all intact. The reverse of the buckle is well marked with the stamped, manufacturer's initials and date, "IKA 41", indicating manufacturer in 1941 by Julius Kremp' in Ludenscheid.

Arrangement: Item-level belt buckle

Extent: One belt buckle

Subject/Index Terms:

Military Uniforms (Nazi-German)

Nazi-German symbols, signs and insignia

Creators:

Government of Nazi Germany (1933--1945)

Document/Artifact of Item-Level 6: RG-115.03.06, Panzer Officer's breast eagle, 1933-1945

Panzer Officer's breast eagle (Hoheitszeichen/Wehrmachtsadler)embroidered silver on black wool.

The Reichswehr's visual acknowledgement of the new National Socialist reality came on 17 February 1934, when the Defense Ministry ordered the Nazi Party eagle-and-swastika, now Germany's National Emblem, to be worn on uniform blouses and headgear effective 1 May. The design adopted, in silver for the Reichsheer (army) and in gold for the Reichsmarine (navy), was a stylized eagle with outstretched, beveled wings clutching a wreathed mobile Hakenkreuz, later to be called the Wehrmachtsadler ("armed forces eagle"). On tunics this took the form of a cloth patch about 9 cm (3⅝") wide worn on the right breast, above the pocket. For enlisted uniforms it was jacquard-woven ("BeVo") or sometimes machine-embroidered in silver-grey rayon, for officers machine- or hand-embroidered in white silk or bright aluminum wire, and for generals hand-embroidered in gold bullion. The backing was "badge-cloth" (Abzeichentuch), a close-woven velvetish fabric; this was originally Reichsheer grey, but in late 1935 the renamed Heer changed its Abzeichentuch color to a dark blue-green called flaschengrün (bottle-green). The war brought several variations to the breast eagle, although it should be kept in mind that none of them was replaced or de-authorized, and all were being worn side-by-side at war's end. When hostilities began in 1939, on the enlisted Feldbluse or field blouse the eagle was changed from silver-white to matte grey for reduced visibility; and in 1940 backings began to be produced in field-grey (feldgrau). Another version appeared with the advent of the Model 1944 Field Blouse, which used a triangular backing for speed and simplicity of manufacture. Very late in the war some Hoheitszeichen were simply printed on thin fabric.

Arrangement: Item-level patch

Extent: One patch

Subject/Index Terms:

Military uniform and cloth, German

Nazi-German symbols, signs and insignia

Creators:

Government of Nazi Germany (1933--1945)