Awards of
World War IIThe award was established for Wehrmacht anti-aircraft artillery units on January 10, 1941, by Hermann Göring as a badge of merit for the Luftwaffe's anti-aircraft artillery.
Originally, the badge had a complex system for calculating achievements for the award; on April 1, 1942, it was replaced by a simple point system similar to other awards. To receive the badge, it was necessary to earn 16 points, which were awarded for the following achievements:
4 points - destruction of an enemy aircraft by a single anti-aircraft platoon;
2 points - destruction of an enemy aircraft by several air defense platoons;
1 point - for detecting an enemy aircraft using sound ranging, or capturing an enemy aircraft in the searchlight beam by searchlight batteries.
In addition, the badge could be awarded to wounded air defense unit soldiers, as well as to battery commanders whose subordinates had already received this badge.
An early version of the award was made of tombac, a later version of zinc. The design, like most chest badges, was developed by Ernst Peckhaus, the first edition was issued by the Junkers company. January 31, 1941. The badge is designed in the form of an 88-millimeter anti-aircraft gun, surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves. At the top of the wreath is an eagle with outstretched wings (this distinguishes the badge from its land counterpart, in which the eagle has folded wings).
On the reverse of the badge is a vertical pin, and possibly a manufacturer's mark. Known variants: C.E. Juncker, Berlin SW; Brehmer, Gustav; F.W. Assmann & Söhne, Lüdenscheid; Wilhelm Deumer; Steinhauer & Lück; E. Ferd Weidman; Gebrüder Wegerhof; Hobacher, W; Linden Friedrich.
The badge's height ranged from 56.3 mm to 56.9 mm, width from 43.5 mm to 46 mm, eagle wingspan from 39.9 mm to 40.9 mm, and weight from 26 to 41.8 grams. The badge was either a single-piece casting with a flat back or a two-piece design—a base and a riveted overlay—of the eagle and swastika.
The Air Force Anti-Aircraft Artillery chest badge, like similar awards, is worn on the left chest, below the Iron Cross, First Class.