This is the second class of the three German sports qualification badges (gold, silver and bronze) of the 1930s, seen worn in many pre-war photos, particularly of SS and armed forces personnel. In 1938 alone, approximately 8,000 silver class badges were awarded, some 87,000 bronze and 1,900 odd gold.

This commemorates the moment when Adolf Hitler ordered his troops to occupy the Saarland, hitherto under French control. The French army offered no resistance and, to compound matters, meekly packed up and left, offering the Reich its first bloodless victory!

These were worn by the National Sports League as qualification badges on sports vests and singlets. A variation of this badge (on a somewhat larger scale, with Olympic rings beneath) was worn by the German Olympic team. The National Sports League would have involved all athletics.

This is perhaps one of the rarest of the sports vest eagles. The Studentenbund took over from where the HJ left off, principally for university students. The belt buckle is certainly one of the hardest to find. The eagle is 12.5cm across the wing span and would appear to be machine woven mercised cotton, off white on a dark blue ground.

This mis-matched set is from the dark blue visor cap of the senior elements of the state officials and diplomatic corps, eg ambassadors. People like Ribbentrop and Constantin von Neurath can be seen in photos wearing this insignia. It was introduced for the diplomatic corps in 1938 on a black visor cap, a summer version being in white.

This badge was awarded for participation in the World Masters Ice Skating Competition in Berlin in 1938, remarkable for not having a swastika in sight, pride of place being taken by the Berlin bear! The inner ring of lettering (ie on the red) says: 'Eiskunstlauf-Weltmeisterschaften'.

A good example of a German prize shooting award for Tirol, dated 1939 and maker marked for Munich, AG & Co. The Landesschiessen was made up of Tirolean veterans from the Great War who were effectively in the reserve for WW2 service.