VERY RARE GERMAN WW2 SS MARKSMAN BADGE, SHARPSHOOTER
German SS Sharpshooter Badge 2nd class of the SS Verfugungs troop.
Marked on the reverse: GES. GESCH.
CONDITION: The item is described to the best of our knowledge. Please refer to pictures and email with any questions.
SIZE: 1 3/8 inches (34 mm).
ESTIMATE PRICE: $3000 - $3500.
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HISTORY: The question of an award for marksmen in the SS first arose prior to the end of 1936. Members of various branches of the SS had no insignia to show marksmanship qualifications. Several members of the SS-Verfugungstruppen returned from their periods of conscript army service with a marksmanship lanyard gain during their time in the forces. Were they to be allowed to wear this on their SS uniform? On 13th October 1936 the Chief-of-Staff of the SS-Oberschnitt Elbe asked the SS-Hauptamt if it would be permitted for personnel returning from service in the armed forces to wear their marksmanship lanyard (Schutzenschnur) on their SS uniform. Himmler ruled this out, and the decision was made not to allow the wear of the lanyard, but rather to allow the wear of the older shooting awards utilising a series of bars and chevrons worn prior to June 1935 by the army. These were to be worn on the lower left cuff of the SS service dress tunic. Himmler then ordered that a metal badge to be known as the Schutzenabzeichen der SS-Verfugungstruppen be created. This would be worn on the right breast pocket of the tunic with parade, re-porting, guard and walking-out dress, but not with field and training dress. The order instituting this award is rather vaguely worded, but it states that, "The lowest grade shall be without a lower oak leaf." The middle grade will have "two lower oak leaves." The highest, or sharpshooter, grade 2 will have three oak leaves." The grouping within each grade will be indicated by a numeral I to 10 at the top of the wreath. Himmler appears to have dropped the idea. He writes, "The SS will receive as its marksmanship award the marksmanship award of the NS Reichskriegerbund. This concept was even shorter lived. In November 1937 an order instituted a totally new series of marksmanship insignia in four classes to be worn on the lower right sleeve. The insignia was Aluminum on a black wool diamond. The metal badges were manufactured in the work-shops of the Munchen silversmith Otto Gahr at an individual cost, including engraving of 0.74 RM per thousand.

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