Wehrmacht, A Fallschirmjager Badge, By Junker-Berlin.

Two-piece construction;in zinc;the wreath gilded, with a separately applied eagle via two rivets visible on the reverse, marked "C.E.Junker,Berlin",pinback is magnetic. Measuring (w)42.86mm.x (h)55.07mm;weighing 33.7 grams, in overall extremely fine condition, scarce. The Army Paratrooper Badge was instituted on September 1st, 1937.Like its Luftwaffe equivalent, this badge was a qualification Badge given to those that had passed the tests to become Paratrooper.The same number of parachute jumps, six,had to be performed for this.When on January 1,1939 the Army Paratroopers unit was merged with the Luftwaffe Paratroopers, the Army Badge ceased to be awarded. Former Army Paratroopers were allowed to keep wearing their Army Badges on their new Luftwaffe uniforms. However, in 1943 the Army began training of another elite Paratrooper unit which came to be known as the "Brandenburgers".Therefore, the Army Paratrooper Badge was reinstated on June 1,1943.