Army Paratrooper Badge, by C. E. Juncker (in aluminum)
CATEGORY: Version
SKU: 01.GTR.0601.101.01.000
Estimated market value:
Estimated market value:
Army Paratrooper Badge, Type II by Juncker - in silvered and gilded aluminum, 2nd pattern, 41.4mm(w) x 54.65mm(h), weighs 11.6 grams, catch at the bottom reverse had been War-time repaired-replaced, with a flat wire catch usually found on the zinc Juncker Army Para Badge; reverse of the badge hand scratched F S 4, presumably wearer’s initials and the unit; worn badge, retaining over 95% of original finish, in very fine condition; scarce.
The Army Paratrooper Badge was instituted on September 1, 1937. Like its Luftwaffe equivalent, this badge was a qualification badge given to those that had passed the tests to become paratroopers. The same number of parachute jumps, six, had to be performed for this.
When on January 1, 1939 the Army paratrooper unit was merged with the Luftwaffe paratroopers, the Army Paratrooper Badge ceased to be awarded. Former Army paratroopers were allowed to keep wearing their Army Paratrooper Badges on their new Luftwaffe uniforms.
However, in 1943 the Army began training of another elite paratrooper unit which came to be known as the “Brandenburgers”. Therefore, the Army Paratrooper Badge was reinstated on June 1, 1943.
Army Paratrooper Badges were initially made from aluminum, with a silvered eagle and a gilt wreath. However, when they were reinstituted in 1943, badge production had switched to zinc as the material of choice. It was of lower quality, but cheap and abundant.
For the longest time, Juncker was seen as the only producer of the Army Paratrooper Badge. However, fairly recently it has been discovered that in all likelihood F. Linden from Lüdenscheid also made these badges.
Juncker was the sole producer of the early Army Paratrooper Badges made from aluminum. It has been estimated that approximately 1500 of these were made and 1000 were awarded. During this time, the company also produced badges made from silver for private purchase. These will be engraved with the owner’s name and are extremely rare and very valuable.
When the Army Paratrooper Badge was reinstated in 1943, Juncker started up production again, however this time using zinc as the material for both the eagle and the wreath. A small number of examples can be found in a transitional state, with a zinc wreath and an aluminum eagle.
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