Awards of
World War IIThe Balloon Observer Badge, an award established on July 8, 1944, for German Army personnel serving in balloon observation units.
Balloon observation units were used as gunners and fire spotters for artillery. But by the time the badge was instituted in 1944, when the Luftwaffe lost air superiority, the virtually immobile and vulnerable balloons became easy targets for Allied aircraft.
Although the award was instituted in three classes: bronze, silver, and gold, no records of the highest, gold version being awarded survive. It's quite possible it was never awarded because no one could meet the requirements due to heavy losses and the short lifespan of observers. The exact number of silver and bronze badges awarded is also unknown, but it is very small, making this badge one of the rarest awards of the Third Reich.
To receive the award, a special points system was used, including the observation conditions and the achieved result. To receive the bronze award, one had to accumulate 20 points, silver – 45, and gold – 75 points.
The badge is designed in the form of a wreath of oak leaves and acorns. At the top of the wreath is an imperial eagle with folded wings, holding a swivel in its talons. In the center of the wreath is a balloon, angled at 45 degrees, its front overlapping the upper right portion of the wreath. The balloon bears a Teutonic cross, and below, a basket holding an observer is suspended from it.
On the reverse of the badge is a vertical pin for attaching the badge to clothing, and possibly the manufacturer's mark.
The Balloon Observer badge, like similar awards, is worn on the left breast pocket immediately beneath the Iron Cross 1st Class or equivalent award.