Gallego, G. T. Auszeichnungen des Dritten Reiches

An analysis and presentation of military awards and badges of honour. All illustrations show original pieces. Long before the beginning of World War II, the German government had begun to adapt the symbolism of the German armed forces to the new circumstances. This included the modernisation of uniforms, the use of new symbols on flags, badges and emblems of the various troop types and units, and finally the relevant modification of traditional military decorations, while at the same time creating new awards for the hastily rearmed new Wehrmacht.

When the war finally began in 1939, which was to drag on for almost six years, the number of medals, orders and military decorations of all kinds grew: it includes, among others, awards of the Spanish Civil War, the Wehrmacht, commemorative badges, combat badges of the Army, Air Force, Navy, etc. All illustrations show original pieces. Thus a rich variety of military awards grew up, to the delight of those who were in favour at the time as well as the ever-growing community of collectors around the world.