Very nice and rare badges Bob. I wish I owned one also but they are way out of my price range
A small correction to the above- the first Gau Decorations were given out to the early members of the party (Alte Kampfers) similarly to the Golden Party Badges without any special achievements aside from early NSDAP membership. In this case (Baden)- Gold Class for individuals joining before 1925 and silver for those joining before 1929 (October of that year if memory serves). The award criteria were expanded sometime around 1934 to include those who did not necessarily joined on/before above dates but -as Bob already mentioned- provided outstanding service to their respective Gau. As it happened with the later awards of Blood Order it created a certain animosity between those who received their awards as Alte Kampfers and those who qualified later on. It went so far as to literally cut out a part of one of the Gau Awards (Danzig) to accommodate both, yet create a dividing line between those two classes of awardees.
A set of Gau Baden Ehrenzeichen.
cheers
Matt
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Gau Ehrenzeichen Collector
Gau Essen Ehrenzeichen
While most likely the least imposing of all Gau Awards, it bears a certain beauty in its simplicity. Struck in 935 silver.
cheers
Matt
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Gau Ehrenzeichen Collector
Gau Wartheland Ehrenzeichen.
While some collectors did not initially believe in this badge as a 'Gau Ehrenzeichen' in the true sense of the word, recent discovery of the award documents leave no doubt- The Wartheland Badge was definitely referred to as an Honor Award of Warthe District- Gau Wartheland Ehrenzeichen during the period.
Arguably the best designed badge of the era, definitely up there with Gau Sudetenland in the Gau Department.
cheers
Matt
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Gau Ehrenzeichen Collector
It has been widely accepted as Gau Badge indeed which we now know was incorrect. The pin you show is a day badge or a 'tinnie'.
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Matt
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Gau Ehrenzeichen Collector
Gau Thuringen. One of only 4 Gau Decorations that can be traced back to the original recipient thanks to the issue number on the back of it.
cheers
Matt
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Gau Ehrenzeichen Collector
Commonly called 'Gau General' 1923. Name has to do with the fact that few Gaue would award the same decoration. While the badge itself would be unchanged regardless of the region, the paperwork that went with it certainly did and can vary from very small and simple Besitzurkunde to larger format and quite elaborate pieces.
As I tend to stick with metal as my main interest I have none to show but perhaps someone here can add some.
cheers
Matt
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Gau Ehrenzeichen Collector
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