- Time Period: Nazi Germany (Interwars Period, World War II)
- Institution: 20 December 1939
- Country: Germany
The Panzer Badge (or Panzerkampfabzeichen in German) was a World War II military decoration of Nazi Germany awarded to troops in armored divisions.
If you know a thing or two about World War II, you might be aware that the German Panzers played one of the major roles, if not the most important one. Led by intrepid commanders such as Erich Von Manstein, Heinz Guderian, Erwin Rommel, and many more, the Panzers broke the front lines with speed, power and destruction following their paths. But the men who led the Panzers through the Russian Steppe or Northern France were the real “Heroes.”
To recognize the achievements of some of these Panzer crews, the OKW (OberKommando Wehrmacht, the German ground army HQ) decided to create a medal for these men. It was first awarded during World War I but was long forgotten since the Germans saw little action during the end of the war.
During the interwar period, a badge was issued for the veterans of the Condor Legion who participated in the Spanish Civil War. But as World War II was starting, the tank crews and their beloved tactics needed something, something to recognize their “Blitz” through the enemy lines.
Famous Recipients of The Panzer Badge
The most decorated generals of the Wehrmacht never got their grasp on this badge, even if their achievements were enormous. No, this badge was meant for the crewmen, those who gave their life for their country. Some of them never saw the end of the war, but some others did.
Otto Carius, per example, is one of the most decorated Panzer ace, having destroyed more than 150 enemy tanks, and most surprinsigly, a flying enemy plane. This particular enemy plane was “annoying” the gunner of the tank, Heinz Kramer, shooting its armor with its machine gun. As the sound of bullets hitting the armor was annoying more and more Mr Kramer, he asked permission to shoot down the plane, and after a first missed shot, shot down the plane. Probably the best tank shot ever. Carius lived until 2015 in Germany and was the last Panzer ace alive.
The most famous Panzer ace, Michael Wittmann, was also awarded with the highest class of the Badge. He was known to have destroyed at least 150+ tanks and more than 130 enemy canons (of any caliber). Unfortunately for him, he ultimately died in Normandy during Operation Overlord in his beloved Tiger. Nonetheless, his legend grew after the war when all of his achievements were discovered.
These folks are some of the most famous recipients of the Panzer Badge, but it would be wrong to forget about the 34,000 others that got the Badge in the different classes with around 22,000 getting the silver one.
There was definitely a lot of recipients during World War II but what is somehow “strange”, is that the Badge is still being given to members of Germany’s land Army, the Heer. If you are a badge “fanatic”, you can try to get one from the Internet but beware of forgeries, as some of them look very close to the original one.
The Panzer Badge Design
The obverse of the Panzer Badge shows a border of oak leaves with a tie at the base and a Panzerkampfwagen IV superimposed in the centre on grassy ground, with its left tank track extending over the edge of the badge. The reverse is plain with a vertical needle style pin, with an oval based hinge and catch.
The badge measures 42.05 mm (w) x 60.09 mm (h) and weights 27.6 grams.
The 50 and 100 engagement badges were struck in a lightweight zinc alloy; this was so that the larger pin did not pull inconveniently on the tunic. The 1957 de-Nazified version lost the eagle and the swastika, but was otherwise unchanged.
The Panzer Classes and Wear
Designed in 1939 by Ernst Peekhaus, the Panzer Badge was first issued in December 1939, when the chief of the OKW, Walter Von Brauchitsch, decided to create a medal dedicated to the sacrifice and the achievements of the Panzer’s crews. Two different classes of the badge were designed for those who received it during world war II. The first and “original” one was the silver Panzer Badge, designed to recognize solely the tank crews.
The “less original” one, the Bronze Panzer Badge, was designed to recognize the crews of armored vehicles (half tracks, trucks,…). As the war was still raging, it was decided that the Badge should evolve. In June 1943, four new classes were created, depending on the amount of engagement the recipent would have take part in: 25, 50, 75 and 100. Depending on which class and the amount of engagement you took part in, the metal used to design the medal and the color of it changed accordingly.
After the war, it was frowned upon to wear this badge since there was a swastika on the top of it. Thus, West Germany decided in 1957 to authorize to wear the Panzer badge in public but only if the swastika was removed from it.
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More Army/Waffen-SS War Badges
The Army/Waffen-SS war badges were military decorations awarded by Nazi Germany to members of the Army (Heer) and the Waffen-SS. Explore the complete collection below:
