BACKGROUND: The DRKB, Deutscher Reichskriegerbund (Kyffhäuserbund), (German National Association of Veterans, Kyffhäuser Association), was formed during WWI, and was based on the DKB, Deutscher Kriegerbund (German Veterans Association), originally formed after the war of 1870-71. The addition of "Kyffhäuser" in the associations name referred to the Kyffhäuser mountain where a large war memorial had been erected. The goal of the association was to preserve the morale and comradeship of former soldiers and to financially assist its members if required. On March 29TH 1938 the DRKB was renamed NS-RKB, Nationalsozialistische-Reichskriegerbund, (National Socialist-State Soldiers League), by the NSDAP and amalgamated with most of the earlier veterans associations into one national organization. Uniform and headgear regulations of the DRKB/NS-RKB were introduced prior to 1933 and were modified again in 1936 and 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, (circa 1936), Soldatenbund, (Soldiers League), eagle but had the eagle facing to its left as opposed to the right facing Soldatenbund eagle.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Injection molded, polished, natural aluminum construction, left facing national eagle, with out-stretched wings clutching a wreathed, canted, swastika in its talons. The eagle has a black enamel painted Iron Cross superimposed over crossed swords on its breast. The eagle is nicely convexed to fit the contours of a cap and has a roughly 7cm wingspan. The hollow backed reverse has its attachment prongs intact and is well marked with embossed numeral, "7", and, "Ges. Gesch.", indicating, Gesetzlich Geschützt, (Protected by Law).