WW2 German Snipers Badge, Second Class - Silver

Highly detailed, hand embroidered Snipers Badges in the first, second and third class versions. The sniper's badge was instituted on 20 August, 1944 by Adolf Hitler, "in recognition of the individual shooter with a rifle as a sniper, and for appreciation of the successes achieved here I introduce to the army and the Waffen SS, the sniper badge."

By order of the High Command of 14 December, 1944, the Sniper Badge was made available to the other armed services.

The sniper's badge had three grades:

• First grade (no trim) for at least 20 enemy kills
• Second grade (with silver trim) for at least 40 enemy kills
• Third grade (with gold trim) for at least 60 enemy kills

The enemy kills were counted from 1 September, 1944. Close quarter kills made were not to be taken into account. Every enemy kill had to be confirmed by witnesses and reported to the unit.

The badge was worn on the right forearm of the uniform.

In 1945, the German High Command issued an order that the sniper's badge had to be removed before capture, since predominantly Soviet troops immediately shot every captured enemy sniper wearing it.