Spanish civil war gold wound badge question - Wehrmacht-Awards.com Militaria Forums

Richard · 10-13-2002, 10:39 PM

We all know that the gold wound badge was never awarded to any members of the German forces that had served in the Spanish Civil War. As the criteria for award included those killed in action, I have to ask: did any German servicemen get killed during the Spanish Civil War and if so, was the criteria for award different at that time to account for none ever having been awarded? Also, has anyone ever seen a gold Spanish style wound badge that may have been awarded after the Spanish Civil War?
Richard V

Prosper Keating · 10-14-2002, 08:50 AM

No Wound Badge in Gold was awarded to anyone, even posthumously, for the Spanish Civil War. The so-called Spanish Civil War Wound Badge is perhaps better described as the 1936 pattern Wound Badge because, as you may know, this type was awarded during the early years of WW2 as long as stocks lasted. There are even photos of Waffen-SS officers wearing the 1936 pattern Wound Badge and it is very unlikely that they were with the Legion Condor! I have an original 1936 pattern Gold Wound Badge that shows signs of having been worn. It could have been awarded at any time from 1939 to, say, 1941. It is probable that veterans of Spain who received a lower grade in Spain made efforts to acquire the 1936 or 'Spanish' type if subsequently awarded a higher grade during WW2. Therefore, it is feasible that a Legion Condor veteran could have ended up with a 1936 pattern Gold Wound Badge but as a result of wounds sustained in WW2, not Spain. But if you wanted to be really pedantic about it, you could always argue that the previous wounds contributed to the eventual award of the GWB and, therefore, that the 'Spanish' GWB could be said to have been awarded as a partial result of wounds sustained in Spain between 1936 and 1939.

But then, people might laugh at you and make faces behind your back...

Does this help?

PK

Richard · 10-14-2002, 09:53 AM

This does help Prosper. Thanks very much. I am still curious why the criteria for awarding this badge include death and why no one in the Legion Condor that was killed ever was awarded one for that conflict? Surely there were Germans KIA in the Spanish Civil War. Was death not a criteria for awarding this badge during this time?
Richard V

Chrvip68 · 10-28-2002, 02:52 PM

Richard,

Interesting thoughts, but unfortunatelly these "Spanish" WB's is a "gray" area

10-28-2002, 06:35 PM

Richard-- Where are you getting "death" as a "qualification" for the Spanish Civil War Wound Badge from? I am unaware of posthumous awards before WW2. Rick

10-28-2002, 09:47 PM

Wasn't in WW2 a Gold WB awarded posthumous to the next of kin when a solder died?

Regards
Dez

Prosper Keating · 10-30-2002, 08:55 PM

I don't think everyone killed in action or who died of wounds received the Gold Wound Badge. In theory, they should have. But I think in practice this was very rare. Those who died in the July 20th 1944 attempt on Hitler's life got the Gold Wound Badge (July 20 1944 version) which is probably how all deaths in or as a result of action should have been recognised. Then again, the people wounded on July 20th 1944 cannot really be said to have suffered wounds 'in action' so the award of a wound badge was probably not all that legal, according to regulations. Moot points! Just goes to show, if you are in the right place at the wrong time or the wrong place at the right time, you will or won't get a medal.

Life's a bitch...ain't it?

PK

W. C. Stump · 10-30-2002, 09:22 PM

As best as I can remember, the statutes for the wound badge, excluding the July 20th, 1944 issues, were for one to two wounds one received the black badge, for three to four the silver badge, and for five or more the gold. Of course Hitler's special wound badge for the bomb plot victims was a personal and special grade and he set the rule for all deceased to automatically receive the Gold July 20th, 1944 badge. Also if one was wounded in the blast and had the silver and four wounds, they received the Gold July 20th badge. At lest four gold badges were issued besides the posthumous awards.

11-02-2002, 12:31 AM

According to Dr. Doehle . . .
As a recognition for those German volunteers who fought the Bolsheviks in the Spanish Liberation War or those connected with the naval combat actions in Spanish waters by the German Navy and those who wounded in action. Hitler on 22 May 1939 established the award of a 1936 Wound Badge.

182 Black badges and 1 Silver were awarded.

11-02-2002, 12:39 AM

So was the condor Legion Honour Cross established and awarded instead of a golden wound badge? Not both?

Regards
Dez

**Mark S.** · 11-02-2002, 12:20 PM

can you imagine how many gold wound badges would be around if every fallen German soldier was awarded one? They would out number the black ones.

11-02-2002, 08:42 PM

Hello Mark

to quote this website:

Quote:

All members of the Armed Forces, Police units, and from 1943 on all civilians injured during allied air raids were eligible for the award. Those individuals killed in action were posthumously awarded the gold grade, which was presented to the next of kin.

http://wehrmacht-awards.com/wound_badges/1939.htm

So maybe during WW2 families of soldiers KIA were eligible for a gold wound badge, but due to manpower and resources being transferred to the front lines, they never received the award they were entitled to. Sure with 9 million Germans being killed and a further 1 million killed by allied bombing raids, you would expect the gold wound badge to be the most common, and not the black.

Regards
Dez