Original World War Two German Navy Kriegsmarine Coastal Artillery Badge by Friedrich Linden, Lüdenscheid.
The Coastal Artillery War Badge was introduced on June 24th 1941 by Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine und Großadmiral, (Commander in Chief of the Navy and Grand Admiral), Erich Raeder for award to land based Naval coastal artillery and anti-aircraft personnel in recognition of their achievements. The award was bestowed based on a point system with the main criteria being "merit in action". Die struck, zinc alloy construction badge is in the form of a gilt washed, vertically oval, oak-leaf wreath with a national eagle with down-swept wings, clutching a canted swastika in it’s talons, superimposed to the top center, encompassing the frosty silver washed, cut-out likeness of an 88mm coastal artillery gun with the barrel of the gun extending beyond the edge of the wreath. Complete with original hinge, pin and catch assembly, and maker marked with the logo of Friedrich Linden, Lüdenscheid.