BACKGROUND: The DRKB, "Deutscher Reichskriegerbund" (German National-veterans’-league), was formed during WWI, and was based on the DKB, "Deutscher Kriegerbund," originally formed after the Franco-Prussian war in the 1870s. By 1936 it had incorporated most of the varied veterans’ associations into it, and was itself re-named the NS-RKB, "Nationalsozialistische-Reichskriegerbund," in 1938. Uniform and headgear regulations of the DRKB/NS-RKB were introduced prior to 1933, and were modified in 1936, and again in 1938. The 1938 uniform modifications introduced a new pattern national eagle for wear on the breast and visor cap. The new eagle was almost identical to the earlier "Soldatenbund" (Soldiers’-league) eagle, but had the eagle facing to its left. This new pattern eagle was also produced in a miniature version for wear on the lapel of civilian clothing.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A die stamped, natural aluminum eagle, with a wreathed, mobile swastika in its talons, and a black enamel-painted Iron Cross to its breast which has swords crossing behind it. The eagle is slightly convex, with a 27mm wingspan. A 50mm long, vertical, rifled brass stick-pin is fixed to the center of its solid reverse. "Ges." and "Gesch.," for "Gesetzlich Geschützt" (By-law Protected), are to the reverse wings on either side of the pin. The number "7" is to the bottom.