By Vosmilitaria
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The Black Wound Badge (Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz) was one of the most frequently awarded German military decorations during the Second World War. It recognized soldiers who had been wounded in combat while serving in the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine or Waffen-SS. The badge was officially reintroduced on 1 September 1939, the day Germany invaded Poland, based on the original World War I design.
Unlike bravery awards such as the Iron Cross, the Wound Badge recognized personal sacrifice. Every badge represents a soldier who was injured while serving on the front line.
Today, original examples are highly sought after by collectors because they are affordable, historically significant and available in a wide variety of manufacturers.
second and last photo is from a kriegsmarine soldier that wears the Black wound badge
The Wound Badge was issued in three grades:
From 1943 onwards, civilians injured during Allied bombing raids could also qualify for the award under specific conditions.
The badge has a simple but instantly recognizable design.
At the center is the German M35-style steel helmet positioned over crossed swords. Around the outside is an oval oak leaf wreath.
Original Black Wound Badges were finished with a matte or semi-matte black coating. Over time this finish often wears away, revealing the underlying metal on raised areas such as:
This natural wear is common and should not automatically be seen as damage.
During the war several different materials were used.
Early production badges were generally made from brass or tombak. These often show excellent detail and are among the highest quality examples.
As the war progressed, shortages of raw materials meant many badges were produced from steel. Steel badges can develop surface oxidation if the black finish has worn away.
Late-war badges were frequently made from zinc. These often lose much of their original black finish due to age and wear.
Each material is considered original when consistent with the period of manufacture.
The reverse of an original badge should show quality manufacturing.
Depending on the maker, you may encounter:
Different manufacturers used different hardware styles, so variations are completely normal.
Note: you will only find solid back construction on Zilver and Gold medals not on Black!
and only hollow versions in Black
Approximately two dozen manufacturers produced the Wound Badge during the Second World War.
Some of the best-known include:
Many original Black Wound Badges are unmarked. This is perfectly correct and does not reduce authenticity.
When examining a badge, pay close attention to the following points:
Original badges display sharp detail in:
Soft or blurry details can indicate poor-quality reproductions.
Original black paint should show natural wear on the highest points.
Artificial ageing often appears:
Natural wear develops gradually over decades.
Always inspect:
These components should match the age of the badge.
Bright modern metal or poorly soldered repairs deserve closer inspection.
Original badges generally feel solid.
Many modern copies feel noticeably lighter due to inferior alloys.
The Black Wound Badge has been reproduced for decades.
Common warning signs include:
keep in mind that theyre are a lot of fakes on this subject.
wound badges are faked very commonly especially the Gold ones so always
keep a eye out for warning signs.
and dont forget a gold wound badge for 100 euros/ dollars is most likely fake.
compare the difference between them
Collectors generally look for:
Because these badges were actually worn in combat, light wear is entirely acceptable and often desirable.
Several factors determine value:
A common unmarked badge is usually affordable, while scarce maker-marked examples or badges with documented provenance can command significantly higher prices.
Badges accompanied by their original award document or belonging to a researched Soldbuch group are especially desirable.
If you’re buying your first Black Wound Badge, remember these simple rules:
A modest original badge is always preferable to an impressive-looking reproduction.
the black wound badge was one of the most awarded medals during WW2. these badges are somthing a lot of collectors want to have in their collection.
always look out with buying these badges especially the Gold ones that are faked a lot.
At Vosmilitaria, we specialise in original German militaria and always recommend studying original construction details before purchasing any military award. Knowledge is the best protection against reproductions and ensures that every item in your collection has a genuine place in history.
we also reccomend to buy the book written by Thomas M. Durante its a excelent book about the subject with everything you need to know about wound badges!
