Awards of
World War IIThe Luftwaffe Paratroopers' Badge was established by Luftwaffe Supreme Commander Hermann Göring on November 5, 1936, as an award for successful completion of paratrooper and parachutist courses.
The criterion for this award was completion of paratrooper courses and five training jumps. Furthermore, eligibility for this badge had to be renewed annually. To do this, one had to complete at least six jumps within a year, including both training and combat jumps. In 1944, as the war was drawing to a close, the badge was authorized to be awarded to administrative and medical personnel for completing a single parachute jump in combat conditions.
The award is in the form of a silver-plated oval wreath, with oak leaves on the right and laurel leaves on the left, intertwined with a ribbon at the bottom. In the center of the award is a gilded diving eagle holding a swastika in its talons.
On the reverse of the award is a vertical pin for attaching to clothing, and possibly a manufacturer's mark on the reverse side of the eagle. Possible options: Imme & Sohn Berlin, W.Deumer Ludensdorf, G.W.L., G.H. Osang Dresden, P.Meybauer Berlin, B & NL, Assmann, Josef Feix & Sohn.
This badge differs slightly from the similar award for infantry paratroopers, which features an eagle with folded wings and a swastika in its talons superimposed on the top of the wreath. A diving eagle, on the other hand, lacks the swastika in its talons.
This badge was made of a silver-nickel alloy, tombac, and zinc in different years and by different manufacturers. The dimensions of the badge can vary depending on the manufacturer: height from 52.1 to 53.9 mm; width from 41.8 to 43.3 mm; eagle from 49.0 to 50.7 mm.
There was also a cloth version of the badge, embroidered with yellow thread, for wearing on field clothing.
This chest badge is worn on the left chest, below the Iron Cross 1st Class. In total, approximately 32,600 people were awarded the Luftwaffe Paratroopers' Badge.