German Awards - Commemorative Sign for Marine Paratroopers

The memorial sign for the paratroopers was established on August 1, 1920 by the Minister of the Reichswehr Gessler. The reason, as in the case of the commemorative sign "Heeresluftschiffer," was the upcoming disbandment of the naval airborne detachment. After an attempt to introduce the corresponding sign during the war in 1916, at the suggestion of Corvette Captain Sommerfeldt, acting in the Imperial Naval Department, the introduction and creation of a commemorative sign was approved. Only the Admiralty was responsible for the award. The awarding took place at the request and was edited by Lieutenant Zur See Hans von Schiller. The conditions of the award were to be the same as those of the army airship. They wrote at least one year of work on an Army airship during the war. The period from the mobilization of August 1, 1914 to November 9, 1918. The same can be said for marine paratroopers. Officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers who met this condition could apply for this badge, regardless of whether they were still on active duty or had already left. For soldiers who were wounded or captured while serving on airships, the minimum service life was 1 year. Walter Schott, Berlin and C.E, Juncker, Berlin are known as the manufacturer of the sign. Meybauer, Werner & Söhne from Berlin, as well as Preissler from Pforzheim and Luppe & Heilbronner are mentioned as other manufacturers. There are also two different options. The first has a narrower airship, a thinner wreath, and a larger imperial crown on top of the wreath. The second option is generally more massive along the wreath up to the airship. The imperial crown is smaller. The needle system is installed not in the center, but above it. Silver badges are also known. The number of awards is about 600. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen before 1945, vol. IV, 2001.

Horizontal oval openwork sign made of silver-plated bronze. The wreath is painted green. (Often passes) The back side is smooth with a horizontal needle with a response hook.

Front side:

• The wreath consists of a circular wreath.
• The latter is formed below from oak foliage with acorns.
• At the same distance, this one is wrapped in tape three times.
• Above, the wreath consists of laurel leaves with fruits.
In the
• center, the wreath is cross-tied with a loop.
• There is one vault under the wreath and two loop vaults above the wreath.
• An imperial crown is worn on the upper two arches.
In
• the center is an airship flying to the left.

Downside:

• Smooth and silver plated. (Manufacturer marking possible)
• A little higher on the wreath was the needle system.
• On the right is a needle jack, on the left is a counterhook.
• The needle is bulbous, pointed towards the end.

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