BACKGROUND
This anti--partisan badge came from an antiques dealer I normally source helmets from located near my brother (who also picks for me) in Wedding, Germany. He told me it came from a house clearance sale among other loosely arranged vintage jewelry out of the same small keepsake box. This is the background story I was given but bought the medal mainly because the photos he shared looked good to me as did the weight, details around the skulls eye's, snake heads and because he was willing to take it back should I change my mind about it.
I did an extensive search of fake Bandenkampfabzeichen badges and none of them ever had the eyes right whereas the originals like this one has the correct 3D doughnut goggles shape around the eye sockets, a detail no fake that I've seen has ever been able to achieve. I am really a helmets, insignia and tunic collector and so badges/medals are somewhat out of my wheelhouse. I've taken many detailed photos to show exactly what this medal looks like in hand and so please do your due diligence and make up your own mind about it.
DESCRIPTION
This is an example of a silber/silver grade “Bandenkampfabzeichen” in what I believe is cast zinc with a vertical banjo-style magnetic pin-back closure and barrel hinge and a flat wire catch. Measuring 49.95mm x 50.06 mm with about 80% of its original silver wash lost through age and wear. It weighs exactly 29.5 grams and is in overall in very fine condition and with great detailing. I tried to price the piece very fairly and based on what it cost me realizing that some dealers are asking a lot more.
$2500 HOLD - J.R.
Please call, text or email me if interested.
Tel/Text: 1-438-502-5052
Email Us: helmetsofwar@gmail.com
HELMETS OF WAR INC.
PO Box 555
Champlain, NY 12919-0555
Anywhere USA/Canada: $10 with full tracking numbers.
Shipping to Europe/UK: $30 with full tracking numbers.
Shipping to Australia/New Zealand: $45 with full tracking numbers.
BACKGROUND HISTORICAL CONTEXT
This War badge is unique in the fact that it is the only war badge to be instituted by the SS/Police and not the Wehrmacht and as such, it was introduced by the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler on 30 January 1944.
The award was intended to recognise those who had taken part in combating the growing Partisan menace which was causing so much disruption in the areas occupied by the German armed forces along with her Allies.
The badge is usually associated predominantly with battles against Soviet Partisans in the Eastern Europe and with Tito and Yugoslavia. But was of course intended for all those who had seen action against Partisans on all the fronts. Although this was an SS and Police award, it was open to all those who had fought against the Partisans and fulfilled the appropriate criteria listed. Thus it was also awarded to members of the Army, Navy, and Luftwaffe personnel as well as to SS and Police units. Authority to bestow the award lay with the High Command of each branch of the Armed Forces and with the local Höhere SS - und Polizei Führer in the case of Waffen-SS or SS and Polizei awards.
The badges design consists of a vertical oval wreath of oak leaves. The lower part of the obverse shows a writhing multi-headed serpent (Hydra), representing the Partisans, or "Bandits" as Hitler insisted they be called. Plunged vertically into the serpents is a broad bladed sword featuring a "Sonnenrad" or mobile Sun-Wheel Swastika on its cross guard. At the base of the wreath is the deaths head emblem of the SS.
The reverse of the badge features a vertical hinged pin and hook fitting soldered to the badge. The vast majority of original examples seen of the Anti-Partisan War Badge are in this semi-hollow backed style. This version exists with both flat and rounded needle backing pins.
