Description
Original WWII German Black Wound Badge (Verwundetenabzeichen Schwarz) – Post-1942 Steel Issue
This is an authentic World War II German Black Wound Badge (Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz), representing a post-1942 production example manufactured in pressed steel. The Black Wound Badge was the lowest of the three wound grades and was awarded for one or two wounds sustained in combat or as a result of hostile action.
Introduced during World War I and reauthorized for use in World War II, the Wound Badge was worn on the lower left breast of the uniform, positioned below all other decorations, and ranked beneath combat badges. A total of 24 officially approved manufacturers produced the award during the war.
Early WWII examples were typically struck in brass or tombak and finished in semi-matte black paint, often with hollow-backed construction. From 1942 onward, due to material shortages, production shifted primarily to steel, as seen with this example.
The badge features the classic design with a steel helmet over crossed swords, finished in blackened paint, consistent with late-war manufacture.
A historically accurate and collectible WWII German wound award, representative of later-war production and an essential component of a comprehensive Third Reich militaria collection.
