Bidspirit auction | World War II German Kriegsmarine

World War II German Kriegsmarine Destroyer War Badge - A World War II German Kriegsmarine Destroyer War Badge (Zerstorerkriegsabzeichen). This combat qualification badge is of single-piece, die-struck construction produced in zinc (Kriegsmetall). The obverse features a vertical oval wreath of oak leaves tied at the base, surmounted by the national emblem consisting of an eagle with down-swept wings clutching a swastika. The central motif depicts a German destroyer in side profile cutting through a large bow wave. The reverse is flat and features a vertical needle-style pin. The hardware consists of a block-style hinge soldered at the top and a simple C-style catch at the bottom. This example is unmarked, showing no visible manufacturer codes or logos. The badge was instituted in June 1940 by Grand Admiral Erich Raeder to recognize the service of officers and crew members on German destroyers during World War II.