A Set of Motor Vehicle Drivers Proficiency Badges (Kraftfahr-Bewahrungsabzeichen) of bronze, silver and gold. On October 23rd 1942 Adolf Hitler introduced a series of three Motor Vehicle Drivers Proficiency Badges in the grades of bronze, silver and gold with qualifications for bestowal of the badges being retroactive to December 1st 1940. The badges were awarded to Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces), personnel and civilian personnel, including Foreign volunteers and auxiliary personnel, under Wehrmacht command, who had fulfilled the required criteria. The criteria for bestowal of the badges varied with exceptional driving ability and vehicle maintenance being the main considerations and also included a prescribed amount of days under difficult weather or combat conditions. When awarded the badge was accompanied by an award certificate and was to be worn on the lower left sleeve of the field blouse and service tunic. The badges were mounted on cloth bases which were to match the uniform it was to be worn on. 1) Stamped magnetic alloy award with a bronze wash. Badge is in the form of an embossed, circular laurel leaf wreath encompassing an embossed steering wheel on a pebble background field. With prongs and original backing wool. 2) Stamped alloy badge with a silver wash. 3) Stamped magnetic alloy award with a gold wash. Badges were found on the battlefield that took place in 1945.

From the battlefield