Germany, Kriegsmarine. A Kriegsmarine Minesweeper Badge by F.W. Assmann & Söhne

(Kriegsabzeichen für Minensuch, U-Boot Jagd, und Sicherungsverbände). Instituted on 31 August 1940 by Supreme Commander Erich Raeder. Constructed of gilded tombak, the Minesweeper War Badge consists of a gilded, oval oak leaf wreath, each side having an outer margin of seven oak leaves pointing upward, at the bottom is a stylized bow holding the wreath together, within the lower third of the wreath lies a calm water surface with narrowly spaced horizontal waves, out of the centre of this surface erupts a column of water representing a mine detonation, this explosion covers nearly the remaining two thirds of the inside area of the badge and ends short of the swastika of the national eagle, the top is crowned by a national Kriegsmarine eagle with spread wings, head turned to its right, the swastika is executed in a very small size, the reverse is silvered and chemically darkened, the maker hallmark for F.W. Assmann & Söhne at the centre, soldered tombak block hinge and C-shaped catch, missing vertical pin, measuring 43.71 mm (w) x 54.03 mm (h), weighing 27.4 g, and in overall extremely fine condition.