BACKGROUND: On May 2ND 1939 the Oberkommando des Heeres, (Army High Command), authorized wear of a distinctive Edelweiss tradition badge by Mountain Troop personnel to be worn on the upper right sleeve of the service, dress and field uniforms. Design of the badge was based on a badge worn by the WWI German Alpine Corps. On introduction the badge was on a blue/green badge cloth base, but in early 1940 this was altered to a field-grey wool base. Of Note: A metal edelweiss with stem was designed for wear on the mountain cap and a stemless edelweiss was authorized for wear on the visor cap. Original regulations, unsuccessfully, dictated the edelweiss’s were to be removed from wear if the personnel were transferred out of a Mountain Troop unit. On November 12TH 1944 regulations were altered to permitted continued wear of the edelweiss after transfer out of a Mountain Troop unit as long as the individual had combat experience with the Mountain Troops.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Pre-1940 pattern, vertically oval, blue/green badge cloth base with a machine embroidered edelweiss with thirteen irregular white petals, an eight bulb, yellow stamen with black accent threads and dual green leaves and stem. The edelweiss is encompassed with a silvery/grey mountaineer rope border, with a white piton to the top center.