BACKGROUND: The NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), Golden Party badge was instituted by Adolf Hitler on October 13TH 1933 to reward those NSDAP members who had served the party continuously from February 27TH 1925, and held a party membership number of 100,000, or below. The originally bestowal of the badges was on November 9TH 1933, and further regulations dictated that Hitler held the right to render the award to personnel who had provided exemplary service to the NSDAP or Greater Germany. These secondary awards were bestowed annually on January 30TH and differ slightly from the original badges. The difference in the original issue badges and the secondary issue was that the original issues had the members NSDAP party number engraved on the reverse while the secondary, January 30TH issued badges had Hitler’s initials and the exact date of the award engraved to the reverse. The badge was awarded in two sizes with a small, 1", (25mm), diameter badge for wear on civilian clothing and a larger, 1 1/4", (30.5mm), badge for wear on political or military uniforms. The introductory regulations stated that the recipient must have continuous, unbroken service with the party and on leaving the party the badge could no longer be worn. The regulations also stipulated that on the death of the recipient the family may keep the badge as a memento. Of Note: Due to the "continuous" service clause in the award criteria, anyone who’s service time had been interrupted were ineligible for award of the badge. As a result of this criteria it is estimated that only about 24,000 badges were awarded out of the possible 100,000.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: This example is an original issue, smaller civilian version with the NSDAP members number on the reverse. The roughly, 25mm diameter, die struck brass alloy construction badge features three color enamel work and a fire gilted finish. The badge features a slightly recessed, fire gilted, embossed, outer oak-leaf wreath with a ribbed background field, encompassing a fine white enameled inner border stripe which encircles a semi-translucent red, circular inner border with inset block Latin script, "National-Sozialistiche-D.A.P.", encompassing a white enameled central field with canted, black enameled swastika. The enamel work shows minor surface scratching. A pebbled field is visible below the semi-translucent red enamel inner border and the script is flush with the enamel. The reverse of the badge is well marked with the impressed manufacturers name and location that appears to be, "Jos. Fuess München", and has the recipients stamped NSDAP party member number, "71565". The reverse has a small, crimped, circular, soldered plate that secures a horizontal pin back assembly. Nice badge. We have some documentation on the original owner who was also a Blood Order recipient and will provide to the new owner.

Note. This item is shipping to USA only and will be drop shipped by the current owner by FedEx.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $3,995.00