Description
Wound Badge in Gold (Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold) – L/14 Marked – by Friedrich Orth – with Original Presentation Box
This is an original German Wound Badge in Gold (Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold), the highest grade of the Wound Badge series instituted on 1 September 1939. The Gold grade was awarded to servicemen who had been wounded five or more times in combat, or to those who suffered particularly severe or permanently disabling wounds as a result of enemy action, making it one of the most meaningful and hard-earned decorations of the Second World War.
This example is marked L/14, identifying manufacture by Friedrich Orth of Vienna, a recognized wartime producer of German awards and decorations. The badge is struck in metal with a gilt finish and displays the correct oval wreath of laurel leaves enclosing a centrally positioned steel helmet bearing the national emblem. The details remain sharp, with the gold finish well preserved and only light, honest wear consistent with age.
The reverse features the correct Orth-style hardware, with a solid hinge, pin, and catch, all intact and fully functional. The maker marking is clearly visible, confirming period production. Accompanying the badge is its original presentation box, a highly desirable inclusion. The box is period correct designed to securely house the badge and protect it when not worn. The exterior and interior both present well, showing only minor age-related wear.
The Wound Badge in Gold represents repeated sacrifice under fire and is among the most respected German combat awards of the era. A complete set such as this—L/14 marked badge by Friedrich Orth with its original presentation box—is an excellent and increasingly scarce example, well suited for advanced collectors of German WWII decorations and combat-related awards.
