German Awards - Gau Badge for NSDAP members since 1925

Some Gauleiters around 1933 established a traditional gau badge for NSDAP members who had been in the party since 1923 or 1925. These included Gau Saxony, Gau Bavarian Ostmark, Gau Franken, Gau Halle-Merseburg, Gau Hesse-Nassau, Gau Magdeburg-Anhalt and Gau Mecklenburg-Lübeck. In Saxony, the Badge of Honor was awarded first. Other Gau introduced a sign on the same pattern somewhat later. Other Gau created their own Gau traditions or Gau badges of honor. More precise award provisions are not known. For the sign with the number of 1923, membership in the NSDAP until November 9, 1923 was a prerequisite. For the 1925 number mark, proven membership was considered a prerequisite from its re-establishment on 27 February 1925. In Saxony, the presentation took place with a passport signed by Gauleiter Mutschmann. Other GAUs have probably adopted this approach. The gau sign was worn on the left side of the chest. Members of the NSDAP who had the Gold Badge of Honor of the NSDAP could wear only one of the two insignia. The simultaneous wearing of several gau signs or the NSDAP Golden Badge of Honor was prohibited. The sole manufacturer is R. Wächtler & Lange of Mittweida. There are badges with double wire needles and a simple needle. Similarly, badges with enameled or lacquered swastikas are known. Exact award figures are not known. Source: J. Nimmergut, German Orders and Insignia until 1945, vol. IV.

Round, openwork sign made of silver sheet. On the front side there is also a swastika riveted with a wreath. At the back is a double perpendicular pin made of round wire with a mating hook. Manufacturer on the back.

Front side:

• The edge is formed by a silver, patinated wreath of oak leaves.
• The swastika installed on the tip is attached from the sides with 2 rivets.
• Cross with silver, beveled outside edges and a central silver number of the year - 1925.
• The inner sides of the swastika are enameled here in black (flush with the edges and year number) or painted.

Downside:

• The edge is half engraved with the side rivets of the cross.
• The edges of the cross are embossed.
In the
• center of the swastika is a 3-line manufacturer's designation:
• - R. WACHTLER -/- & - LANGE -/- MITTWEIDA -, including a silver bullet - 800 -.
• Vertically double pin with reciprocal hook.