Here is a recent addition to my (still) very small family of Kriegsmarine badges, a 1957er Zerstörer-Kriegsabzeichen [Destroyer War Badge].

Instituted on 4 June 1940, the Zerstörer-Kriegsabzeichen was awarded to crews of destroyers who had proven themselves in wartime operations. On 22 October 1940, torpedo boat crews also became eligible for this badge.

To qualify for the badge, a seaman had to have taken part in a specified number of missions (either 3 battles or 3 offensive/6 defensive mine-planting operations or 6 succesful war patrols or 6 long-distance escort missions or a combined total of 12 other operations) or particularly distinguished himself in action or participated in an outstanding operation as determined by the fleet commander or commanding admiral.
(The badge could be awarded without fulfilling one of these requirements to survivors of a vessel that was sunk by the enemy and in special cases to sailors who were wounded in action. Furthermore, all crew members of the destroyers that had taken part in the Narvik operation were automatically eligible for the badge without fulfilling any additional requirements.)

Here’s the badge now; It’s a nice very early piece in worn condition.

Obverse and reverse views:

Additional reverse view showing the hardware with the solid hingeblock and the round pin. The catch is a bit bent:

As always, all comments are welcome.

Click to enlarge the picture