Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz, 1914-1918 (Wound Badge, black 1914-1918)

Oval blackened steel badge with magnetic core of skeletal form; the face with a helmet imposed on crossed swords within a laurel wreath border; the reverse plain with possibly replaced pin for wear; some loss of black paint from the high points of the helmet; height 44.16mm (1.74 inches). The wound badge was instituted on 3 March 1918 in three grades, black, as in this example, for one or two wounds, ‘silver’ for three or four wounds and ‘gold’ for five or more wounds. The badge was re-instituted in the late 1930s