BACKGROUND: The RMBO, "Reichsministerium für die Besetzten Ostgebiete" (State-ministry for the Occupied Eastern-territories), was created soon after the invasion of Russia, with Alfred Rosenberg as its head. Originally envisioned as the medium to create an eventual German-Russian cooperative government, conflicts and intrigues between the RMBO and, particularly, the SS, led to the ministry instead supervising forced labor, the shipment of food produced in the territories to Germany, and the plunder of valuables from individuals and museums.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: RMBO eagle whose spread wings have a span of 105mm, clutching a wreathed, mobile swastika in its talons, all in machine woven silver-grey threads against a medium brown wool backing. This style of eagle was worn by officials of the RMBO, initially over the right breast pocket, and afterwards on the upper left sleeve of their uniforms. Nice original example, scarce.