Marksmanship Badge Question

**soalebm** · 05-27-2011, 05:43 PM

There is a local estate auction coming up in a week and there are two German-Occupied Austria 1944 dated Wehrmann (Military) marksmanship enamel pin badges. I had not seen these badges before so I was wondering about these badges. Were these produced for a certain event held every year? and I assume the event was in Austria but where was it in Austria. I found several for sale online but very little information about the event they were awarded at. I included the photos the auction posted I believe them to be original because of the high quality plus the person who owned the items has a large grouping of his WWII items for sale from his ROTC days to officer cadet school and onto England and France. But since I had not seen them before I was wondering if they are rare or just not heavily collected.

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 05-27-2011 05:43 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**Adrian** · 05-27-2011, 11:17 PM

I've never seen these before and would be interested to find out more so hopefully one of the other guys or girls can help?

**Adrian Stevenson** · 05-28-2011, 10:06 AM

Hi Guys, I can tell you a bit about these.

The red eagle is the symbol of the Austrian Tirol region. I went there on my very first overseas holiday.

These badges were worn by the Tiroler Landesschießen & Kreisschießen together with the Standschützenverband Tirol-Vorarlberg.

The badge on the left is the three year Gau master shots award ( 3 jahre Gaumeisterschütze ) These were serial numbered if it was an awarded badge. Some on the market are unissued, un numbered peices. If numbered, I know of someone who has a list of the names to whom they were awarded. So they can be researched.

Shooting Competions were held in Gau Tirol-Vorarlberg between 1941-1943 at nine locations: Bregenz, Landeck, Schwaz, Reutte, Bludenz, Imst, Kufstein, Kitzbühel & Dornbirn.

In 1944 an additional seven more were held at: Lienz, Bozen, Brixen, Schlanders, Salurn, Meran & Bruneck.

These badges could be worn on the lapel of the jacket but also interestingly they could also be worn on cap band of the traditional Tirolian mountain hat.

Cheers, Ade.

**Adrian Stevenson** · 05-28-2011, 10:27 AM

Some more background info on the organisation, which I have added a translated link:

Google Translate

**Adrian Stevenson** · 05-28-2011, 10:32 AM

A few for sale here, of various types, to give you an idea of values:

ORGANISATIONSABZEICHEN + URKUNDEN 1870-1945 (20) : Deutsches Reich 1933 - 1945 - André Hüsken Militaria

**soalebm** · 05-28-2011, 03:17 PM

Thank you very much for all of the information Adrian! The auction is next sunday so I plan on going and hopefully I can get them. I saw a few photos of other items and there was a grouping of US pins and patches including some photos of the man who brought these back from the war and a pair of his dogtags. I hope I can get all of these items to keep everything together. It would be nice to keep a name with everyting. Here are some photos of the other things. The auctioneer said there were some graphic photos taken at a concentration camp they did not put on the website. My guess is they will be copies and not photos taken by this man but they might be.

**Adrian** · 05-28-2011, 03:33 PM

That was fairly comprehensive Ade!

Soalebm, good luck at the auction, if you win them please post some more photos?

**Woolgar** · 05-28-2011, 06:30 PM

Great info Ade I often see these badges for sale

Nick

**Adrian Stevenson** · 05-29-2011, 09:09 AM

Good luck on your bidding!

That is a nice little group. With him being in Southern Germany (Bavaria) there is a very good chance this is legitimate group.

There are a few more for sale here:

The Collector's Guild

Cheers, Ade.