BACKGROUND: The Destroyer War Badge was instituted on June 4TH 1940 by Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine und Großadmiral, (Commander in Chief of the Navy and Grand Admiral), Erich Raeder, for award to destroyer crew members who had participated in the naval battle for Narvik, Norway, under the command of Kommodore Friedrich Bonte. Regulations of October 1940 extended bestowal of the Destroyer War Badge to include other destroyer, torpedo, and E-boat personnel involved in other naval battles who met a preset criteria. Of Note: Torpedo and E-boat personnel were no longer eligible for the Destroyer War Badge after the introduction of the E-boat Badge on May 30TH 1941.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, die struck alloy, solid back construction badge with gilted washed and nickel/silver plated finishes. The badge is in the form of a vertically oval, oak-leaf wreath with a small national eagle with down-swept wings superimposed to the top center, encompassing the forward profile view of a nickel/silver plated destroyer and waves. The reverse of the badge has a heavy, solid, soldered hinge, a broad tapering horizontal pin, a heavy soldered catch (possible repair to the catch) and a soldered retaining hook to the top all intact. The reverse is well marked with the embossed manufacturer's name and location, "Schwerin Berlin 68".