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'Wound Badge' (German: ''Das Verwundetenabzeichen'') is a German military award for wounded or frost-bitten soldiers of Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations (after March 1943 due to the increasing number of allied bombings — also for civilians). First instituted during the first world war it existed in three versions: black for one or two times wounded by hostile action or air raid, or frost-bite in the line of duty, silver for three or four times wounded, loss of a hand, foot or eye via hostile action (also partial loss of hearing), facial disfigurement or brain damage via hostile action and gold (can be awarded posthumously) for five or more times wounded, total blindness or severe brain damage via hostile action. They exist in pressed steel, brass and zinc as well as pure base metal privately commissioned versions. Those of the first world war were also produced in a cutout pattern.
All versions of the Wound Badge were worn on the lower left breast of the uniform or tunic. The Badge was worn below all other awards worn on the left breast, if any were present. It's assumed that upwards of 5 million were likely awarded during World War II. In 1957 the Wound Badge was again authorised for wear, however, the swastika needed to be removed (for example by grinding).
The unadulterated second world war version is shown in the illustration to the right.

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Wound Badge of 20 July 1944

Notes

References

Wound Badge of 20 July 1944

The 20th of July Wound Badge is by far the rarest of these awards, as it was only issued to a handful of people that were injured on the famous (and failed) bomb attempt on Hitler's life at the Wolf's Lair headquarters in Rastenburg, East Prussia. Twenty-four individuals were present when the bomb detonated and they were all injured to some degree. One officer was killed immediately and three others succumbed to their wounds a short time later. Hitler, believing this to be a 'moment of destiny' for him, personally directed the appropriate persons to design a special badge commemorating the event. This wound badge was the result.
The 20 July Wound Badge is based on the common Wound Badge, but the helmet is slightly higher and larger, they also bear the date “20 Juli 1944” and a facsimile of Hitler's signature appears below the helmet and date. Hitler presented all the survivors with the special wound badge (these were done in all three grades of black, silver, and gold) and a unique award document in a ceremony on September 2 1944.
The four posthumous awards (all of those in gold) were sent to the next-of-kin.

Notes

★ The 20 July Wound Badge in Black was not completely black in color (like the normal wound badge). Instead, only the helmet and wreath were colored black. The background was left in a silver color so that the date and facsimile signature could be easily seen.

★ Hitler - although he was wounded in the bombing - did not give one of these badges to himself. The only Wound Badge he wore was the one he had earned in World War One. Hitler was unusual among despots in that he only had one badge on his uniform that he awarded to himself (the Golden Party Badge). All others were ones he was awarded in the Great War.

★ Konteradmiral Hans-Erich Voss had this badge in all three grades because even though he had been awarded this badge in black, he was wounded in subsequent battles and was given the higher grades as a result. Persons present who had already had the normal wound badge were awarded the 20 July wound badge in the higher grade.

References

★ FOR FÜHRER AND FATHERLAND: Military Awards of the Third Reich by LTC John R. Angolia. 1976 R. James Bender Publishing. ISBN 0-912138-14-9