Sniper's Badge

The Sniper's Badge (German: Scharfschützenabzeichen) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to snipers. It was instituted on 20 August 1944.[1] Initially, it was only eligible to personnel serving in the German Army and the Waffen-SS.[1] Later, by order of the High Command, it was also made available to snipers of the other armed services.[1]

Sniper's Badge
Scharfschützenabzeichen
Sniper's Badge (1st class – gold trim)
Awarded by  Nazi Germany
TypeBadge
EligibilityMilitary personnel
Awarded forsuccesses achieved with a rifle as a sniper
Campaign(s)World War II
StatusObsolete
DescriptionCloth
Statistics
Established20 August 1944[1]

The sniper's badge had three grades:

  • Third class (no cord) for 20 enemy kills[2]
  • Second class (with silver cord) for 40 enemy kills[2]
  • First class (with gold cord) for 60 enemy kills[2]

The enemy kills were counted from 1 September 1944. Close quarter kills made were not to be taken into account. Every enemy kill had to be confirmed by witnesses and reported to the unit.

Description

The sniper's badge was made of greenish-gray cloth, embroidered and oval shaped. It depicts a black eagle's head turned to its left with white plumage, ochre yellow-colored eyes and closed beak. The eagle's body is covered by three oak leaves and a left mounted acorn. The edges of the ribbon are sewn and the three stages are distinguished by a circumferentially sewn cord in silver (2nd class) or gold (1st class). The badge was worn on the right sleeve of the uniform.[3]

Recipients

Notes
  1. Angolia 1987, p. 114.
  2. Angolia 1987, p. 115.
  3. Angolia 1987, pp. 114–115.

References
  • Angolia, John (1987). For Führer and Fatherland: Military Awards of the Third Reich. R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 0912138149.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Jörg Nimmergut: Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945. Band 4. Württemberg II-Deutsches Reich. Zentralstelle für wissenschaftliche Ordenskunde, München 2001, ISBN 3-00-001396-2.
  • Brian L. Davis: Uniformen und Abzeichen des deutschen Heeres 1933–1945. Motorbuchverlag.
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