Gau Badges and badges of the NSDAP (Nazi Party)

Category: Medals

Gau Badges and badges of the NSDAP (Nazi Party) Page1

The mark of a so-called "true patriot," the Golden Party Badge of the NSDAP distinguished the wearer as a pioneer of the National Socialist German Worker's Party, the Nazi Party.

(Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei).

Anyone who has seen the movie "Schindler's List" will remember the importance that Oskar Schindler placed on this badge, and the "goodwill" he was afforded by wearing it.

In the Third Reich this badge elevated one to the level of royalty.

On 13 October 1933, Hitler decreed that all persons with uninterrupted service in the Party since 27 Feb 1925, and who held Party membership numbers 1 to 100,000 would be awarded the newly instituted Golden Party Badge on 9 November, 1933. This date is significant as it was the 8th anniversary of the failed attempt to overthrow the government, the Munich "Beer Hall Putsch," a national holiday under Hitler's reign.

There were some restrictions that contributed to the rarity and significance of this award. Of the 100,000 persons who might have been qualified, the restrictions of active and unbroken membership reduced the number of awards to 22,282: 20,487 men and 1,795 women.


The badge came in 2 sizes, 30.5 mm for wear on uniforms and 25 mm for wear on civilian clothes. Images shown oversize.	Standard NSDAP badge shown here for comparison.

From http://www.collectinghistory.net/goldenpartybadge/

The leaders of Nazi political districts (known as the Gauleiter) were empowered to bestow Gau Badges for a variety of services rendered to the local political organization. Such Gau Badges were issued in Silver and Gold with some issuances in Bronze. Very rarely were Gau Badges issued in Gold with Diamonds. These were civilian badges and not worn on military uniforms with the exception of the SS who were given permission to wear a mixture of civilian & military badges.

The following is a list of some the Nazi Party Gau badges. Originally there were 33 Gaus and later 43 Standard Gau Badge (1925) Munich Gau Badge Berlin Gau Badge Thuringia Gau Badge East Hannover Gau Badge East Prussia Gau Badge Baden Gau Badge Essen Gau Badge Danzig Gau Badge Wartheland Gau Badge Sudentenland Gau Badge Gau Koblenz badge
The most "important" of these badges is the 1923 version in gold and silver. It marked the ill fated "Beer Hall Putsch" for which Hitler was jailed.
Many Gauleiters also made a habit of issuing "Day Badges" or "Rally Badges" that are now referred to as 'tinnies'. They are not covered here. They have their own page.


The 1925 NSDAP badge when Hitler reformed the NSDAP (Nazi Party) and took personal control of it	The East Prussia Gau badge. Details


Gau Wettkampfe (competition) and meeting of the NSDAP in Hessen, 1934	The 1925/1935 Commemorative NSDAP badge


The 1935 Franken Day in Hesselberg badge.	1936 NSDAP badge commemorating the 1934 statement that "Hitler is Germany".


Hitler Youth Day 1933 badge	"Germany is Awake" badge 1933, Gau Mittlefranken Hesselberg


"National Erhebung." This badge marked the first major political victory in 1934	Gautag of the Hessen Gau in Frankfurt A.M. in 1936


Gau badge for the meeting of the Pommern Stettin Section I, 1938.	1939 the first Kreisstage of the Party.


1938 NSDAP Sudentland Honour badge	The Danzig Gau badge


Gau Essen	Gau Munich (Munchen), standard & silvered


Gau Munich badge in gold	Gau East Hannover


Gau Baden badge	Wartheland Gau badge


Sudentland Gau Badge	Thuringia Gau Badge


This Gau badge bears Hitler's quote "I Love The Eternal Germany".	Gau Berlin badge in silver and enamel

NSDAP "Freedom" badge 1935 shows St George slaying the dragon that represents the Treaty of Versailles, the Jews and the Bolsheviks.

NSKOV ENLISTED RANKS CAP BADGE: for the peaked visor cap of the enlisted ranks of the 'Nationalsozialische-Kriegsofperversorgung' [National Socialist War Victims Support Service], a branch of the NSDAP created to help those war wounded in need as well as their families. This league not only helped WWI disabled veterans but also those party members injured during the Nazi Party's struggle in the early years.


Gau Thing Koblenz Trier 1935	Köln-AAchen Gau badge 15 Oct 1933

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