1957er Heeres-Flak-Abzeichen
The latest addition to my nicely-growing family of 1957er badges, here is a Heeres-Flakabzeichen [Army Flak Badge]. (Its Luftwaffe equivalent was designated as the Kampfabzeichen der Flakartillerie [Combat Badge of the Flak Artillery] or Flak-Kampfabzeichen [Flak Combat Badge].)
Instituted on 18 July 1941 (about half a year after the Luftwaffe badge), it was awarded to members of anti-aircraft units of the army infantry and army artillery on a "points" system matching that of the Luftwaffe's anti-aircraft artillery branch. The badge could also be awarded independently of the personal "points" score to battalion-/detachment- and company-/battery commanders if half of the crews under their command had been bestowed with the badge and if they had commanded their units during the actions for which these awards had been made, even if they had not personally directed the fire.
Here is the badge now. It's a piece from the late production period. Obverse and reverse views:
The Heer badge was closely modelled on the Luftwaffe one, but not identical in design. The most obvious differences were the different Heer/Luftwaffe eagles on top of the wartime badges and the different wreaths. The "de-nazified" 1957er versions omitted the Swastika originally held in the eagle's clutches on the Luftwaffe badge and omitted the eagle altogether from the Heer badge:
(I have already shown the Luftwaffe badge on this thread: 1957er Flak-Kampfabzeichen )
As always, all comments are welcome.
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by rbminis
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