BACKGROUND: Besides the numerous Trade and Specialist sleeve badges the German army also introduced assorted proficiency badges for qualified personnel at varying times through-out the Third Reich to distinguish EM/NCO personnel who had achieved proficiency at a particular trade, specialty or function. The identifying insignia was most commonly worn on the lower right sleeve of the service or field tunic of qualified personnel holding the ranks of Schütze to Stabsfeldwebel inclusively. Regulations of June 6TH 1936 introduced a specific identifying proficiency sleeve badge for qualified artillery gunners. The first pattern artillery gunners proficiency badge was short lived however and was replaced with a second pattern as per regulations of December 16TH 1936.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: This second pattern, (circa December 1936-May 1945), artillery gunner’s proficiency badge features vertically oval, light blue/green badge cloth base with a machine embroidered, opened top, golden yellow oak-leave wreath encompassing a golden yellow, central, vertical artillery shell with five "flames" emanating from the top edge of the shell.