What Is a Verwundetenabzeichen Worth?

Updated: August 2026

Black — by far the most common class — is usually 20 to 50 euros, Silver ranges between 70 and over 300 euros depending on manufacture, and Gold sits at 130 to 190 euros. What matters is not only the class but also the version: early, solid pieces in tombak or brass ("1st type") are noticeably worth more than the later wartime production in zinc ("2nd type").

Guide Prices by Version and Condition

All figures are guide prices based on real sale and asking prices from German specialist dealers (as of August 2026). The actual price depends on the individual piece, the maker and the accessories — send us photos and we'll give you a concrete figure.

For comparison, two real individual sales outside this table: a Silver badge with the owner's name engraved (condition 2) was offered for 140 euros, and a Black badge from late zinc production with the maker's mark "E.S.P." (Eugen Schmidthäußler, Pforzheim, condition 2-) for 120 euros. Both examples show that an identifiable maker or an engraved name lift a piece above its pure material value.

Source: orden-militaria.de, retrieved 2026-08-28

Source: weitze.net, retrieved 2026-08-28

For rare special versions such as the Verwundetenabzeichen "20. Juli 1944" — with only a handful of known recipients — we have no reliable price source. We assess such pieces individually from your photos.

Original or Fake?

The Verwundetenabzeichen was produced in enormous numbers, so restrikes are correspondingly common in circulation. Five features we check for:

1. Construction depending on class and type. In early production ("1st type"), Silver and Gold are solid tombak — a copper-zinc alloy. Black, by contrast, was hollow-stamped sheet iron from the start. A Silver or Gold badge that sounds hollow and feels light is suspicious, unless it is recognisably a late zinc production. Source: ehrenzeichen-orden.de (Gegenüberstellung 1. Form / 2. Form je Klasse), retrieved 2026-08-28
2. Zinc from late 1943. Towards the end of the war, all three classes increasingly switched to zinc: a duller, matter surface and a stronger tendency towards whitish corrosion, compared with the richer shine of tombak or brass on early pieces.
3. Maker's mark on the back or under the helmet. Known attributions include "30" and "65" for Klein & Quenzer (Oberstein), "L/11" for Wilhelm Deumer, or initials such as "E.S.P." for Eugen Schmidthäußler (Pforzheim). If a mark is missing where one is expected, or doesn't match any documented maker, caution is warranted.
4. Pin mechanism. The original has a vertical pin with a catch on the back, made either flat or round depending on the maker. A recognisably modern pin or a crude, later solder joint doesn't match period manufacture.
5. Hollow-struck Silver or Gold as a warning sign. Solid manufacture was mandated for these two classes. Hollow-struck Silver or Gold badges have circulated on the collector's market, but they did not meet the official manufacturing standard — such pieces deserve closer examination. If in doubt, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ordenskunde (German Society for the Study of Orders, DGO) can advise.

If in doubt, we check the piece from your photos — that costs nothing and commits you to nothing.

Brief Historical Background

The Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 was instituted by decree of Adolf Hitler on 1 September 1939, at the same time as the attack on Poland. It followed on from the Verwundetenabzeichen of 1918, which Wilhelm II had created for the First World War.

The three classes were based on the number of wounds suffered from enemy action: Black for the first and second wound, Silver for the third and fourth, Gold from the fifth wound onward or for particularly severe individual cases, which could also allow a class to be skipped. Wounds from earlier conflicts — the First World War, the Spanish Civil War — counted towards the classification.

The award criteria were widened as the war went on: from March 1943, civilians from bombed areas and railway personnel also received the badge. That explains the enormously high overall numbers — estimates put total awards across all three classes and the whole war at 12 to 15 million. For valuation today, that means Black is by far the most common and therefore the cheapest class, while Silver, and above all early, solid production, are noticeably rarer and correspondingly more valuable.

A note on the legal position: buying and selling original pieces from this period is legal in Germany. What is regulated is the public display of symbols of unconstitutional organisations (§ 86a StGB). We therefore handle photos showing such symbolism discreetly and document pieces only in a private context.

Sell Without Risk

Antique Militaria is a Spanish collectors' house buying throughout Germany. We buy for our own collection — with no dealer mark-up. In concrete terms, this means: we don't have to factor in a resale margin, and we can pay you a collector's price.

Here's how it works:

1. Send photos via WhatsApp to +34 665 164 779 — front, back, pin and catch, plus the award packet or case if you have one. Two minutes, no obligation.
2. Free valuation within 24 hours. We'll tell you whether the piece is original, which class and type it is, and what we'll pay for it.
3. Payment in cash, as soon as we've agreed a price. For larger collections and Nachlässe we come and view them in person — anywhere in Germany.

You don't need to send anything in before the price is set, and you don't have to sell if you don't like the offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Is a Verwundetenabzeichen in Black Worth?

As a guide price, 20 to 50 euros, depending on material (iron or brass) and condition. Black is by far the most common class and correspondingly the cheapest — we'll give you the exact value of your piece once we've seen photos.

What Is a Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold Worth?

As a guide price, 130 to 190 euros for the later zinc or tombak production ("2nd type"). Gold was awarded noticeably less often than Black or Silver, from the fifth wound onward or for particularly severe cases.

How Can I Tell Whether My Badge Is "1st Type" or "2nd Type"?

By material and weight: the early "1st type" is solid tombak, brass or white metal and correspondingly heavy, while the later wartime production ("2nd type") is hollow zinc or iron, lighter, and duller in surface finish. If in doubt, we check this from your photos.

Does the Maker's Mark Increase the Value?

Yes. An identifiable mark such as "L/11" (Wilhelm Deumer) or initials such as "E.S.P." (Eugen Schmidthäußler, Pforzheim) turns an anonymous mass-produced piece into a documented individual item, and that has a positive effect on the price.

Is It Legal to Sell a Verwundetenabzeichen?

Yes. The private sale of original historical decorations is permitted in Germany. Only the public display of the symbolism is restricted (§ 86a StGB) — this is irrelevant to you when selling discreetly to a collectors' house.

How Quickly Do I Get My Money?

As soon as we've agreed a price: you receive the amount in cash, in hand, at the personal handover.

Sell Wound Badge

More guide values: Mother's Cross · Iron Cross · Knight's Cross · German Cross in Gold · War Merit Cross · Second World War decorations · East German decorations