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Two Inscribed Wehrmacht Qualification Badges Including a Luftwaffe Pilot/Observer Badge Inscribed to

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:750.00 USD Estimated At:1,500.00 - 2,500.00 USD
Two Inscribed Wehrmacht Qualification Badges Including a Luftwaffe Pilot/Observer Badge Inscribed to
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Two Inscribed Wehrmacht Qualification Badges Including a Luftwaffe Pilot/Observer Badge Inscribed to Kurt Maelzer Military Commandant of Rome

1) Pilot/Observer Badge, 2 3/8 inches wide with "B&N/L" on the back of the silver eagle and "GENERALLEUTNANT/KURT-MALZER" on the back of the gold wreath. Joining the Imperial Army in 1914, Maelzer earned the 2nd and 1st Class Iron Crosses as well as receiving training as a pilot. Retraining as an artillerist and engineer following the war he joined up with the infant Luftwaffe in 1934, serving as a technical school instructor, commander of Bomber Wing 255, and later as military Commandant of German-Occupied Rome. Following his capture at the end of the war, he went on trial for his actions as Commandant, specifically mistreatment of Allied prisoners of war and the Ardeatine Massacre, the retaliatory killing of civilians, prisoners and jews in response to a bombing by Italian Partisans. 2) Heer Paratrooper Badge, 1 5/8 inches wide and 2 1/8 inches tall, with "800" on the back of the eagle and "Fallschirm-InF-Btl./Leutnant Leithold" on the back of the wreath. Lt. Leithold has not been identified.

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Both are very fine with some mild handling marks overall and darkening on the backs of the wreaths.