Established 8 July 1944 | Eligibility Military personnel Status Obsolete | |
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Awarded for service as a balloon observer | ||
The Balloon Observer's Badge (German: Ballonbeobachterabzeichen) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to German Army personnel who risked their lives, flying 300 ft (91 m)-500 ft (152 m) above the ground in a gondola below a gas balloon. They were easy targets for Allied pilots and ground fire. Due to its late introduction, only a very small number were awarded.
Contents
Design
The die-struck badge features a laurel wreath of oak leaves and acorns surmounted by the national eagle grasping a swastika. Below this is a representation of an observation balloon.
Grades
The Balloon Observer's Badge had three grades based on a point system.
Points were awarded for particular conditions, such as the difficulty and success of a mission. There is no record of the gold version ever being awarded. Recommendation for the award was rendered by a commanding officer of either the observer unit, artillery unit or army unit.