__NOTOC__ The Sniper's Badge () was a

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

military decoration Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. DoD Manual 1348.33, 2010, Vol. 3 A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a med ...

awarded to snipers. It was instituted on 20 August 1944. Initially, only personnel serving in the German Army and the

Waffen-SS The (, "Armed SS") was the combat branch of the Nazi Party's ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) organisation. Its formations included men from Nazi Germany, along with volunteers and conscripts from both occupied and unoccupied lands. The grew from th ...

were eligible. Later, by order of the High Command, it was also made available to snipers of the other armed services. The sniper's badge had three grades: * Third class (no cord) for 20 enemy kills * Second class (with silver cord) for 40 enemy kills * First class (with gold cord) for 60 enemy kills The enemy kills were counted from 1 September 1944. Close quarter kills made were not to be taken into account. Every enemy kill had to be confirmed by witnesses and reported to the unit.

Description

The Sniper's Badge was made of greenish-gray cloth, embroidered and oval shaped. It depicts a black

eagle Eagle is the common name for many large birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. Eagles belong to several groups of genera, some of which are closely related. Most of the 68 species of eagle are from Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, j ...

's head turned to its left with white plumage, ochre yellow-colored eyes and closed beak. The eagle's body is covered by three oak leaves and a left mounted acorn. The edges of the ribbon are sewn and the three stages are distinguished by a circumferentially sewn cord in silver (2nd class) or gold (1st class). The badge was worn on the right sleeve of the uniform.

Particularities

At the beginning of 1945, the '' Oberkommando der Wehrmacht'' issued the order that the Sniper's Badge had to be removed before being captured, after primarily Soviet troops shot every captured sniper immediately.

Jörg Nimmergut Jörg or Joerg () is a German name, equivalent to George in English. * Jörg Bergmeister, German race car driver * Jörg Frischmann, German Paralympian athlete * Jörg Haider, Austrian politician * Jörg Andrees Elten (also Swami Satyananda), G ...

: ''German medals and decorations until 1945.'' Volume 4. ''Württemberg II-German Reich.'' Central Office for Scientific Orders, Munich 2001, ISBN 3-00-00-1396-2, p. 2332 Nazi era decorations were banned after the war. The Sniper's Badge was among those re-authorised for wear by the

Federal Republic of Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),, is a country in Central Europe. It is the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany lies between the Baltic and North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south ...

in 1957, with qualifying members of the

Bundeswehr The ''Bundeswehr'' (, meaning literally: ''Federal Defence'') is the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. The ''Bundeswehr'' is divided into a military part (armed forces or ''Streitkräfte'') and a civil part, the military part con ...

wearing the award on the ribbon bar, represented by a small replica of the badge on a field grey ribbon.

Recipients

Matthäus Hetzenauer Matthäus Hetzenauer (, 23 December 1924 – 3 October 2004) was an Austrian sniper in the ''Wehrmacht'' of Nazi Germany during World War II. He served in the 3rd Gebirgsjäger Division on the Eastern Front of World War II, and was credited ...

(Gold) *

Bruno Sutkus Bruno Sutkus ( lt, Bronius Sutkus, 14 May 1924 – 29 August 2003) was a Lithuanian-German sniper in the 68th Infantry Division of the German Army, on the Eastern Front of World War II, and was credited with 209 kills. Every kill was recorded i ...

(Gold)

Notes

References

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External links

* Jörg Nimmergut: ''Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945.'' Band 4. ''Württemberg II-Deutsches Reich.'' Zentralstelle für wissenschaftliche Ordenskunde, München 2001, . * Brian L. Davis: ''Uniformen und Abzeichen des deutschen Heeres 1933–1945.'' Motorbuchverlag. {{List of military decorations of the Third Reich , state=collapsed Awards established in 1944 Military awards and decorations of Nazi Germany 1944 establishments in Germany Sniper warfare Military awards and decorations for marksmanship