Germany, Wehrmacht. A Gold Grade Wound Badge, with Case, by the Vienna Mint visually-hidden becoming a Captain in August

becoming a Captain in August 1914

bearing initials “AV” for Amerikadeutscher Volksbund from which rays emanate and culminate in a mobile swastika

which was the opening phase of the Allied offensive later known as the Hundred Days Offensive that ultimately led to the end of the First World War

crisp ball finial

Germany, Wehrmacht. A Gold Grade Wound Badge, with Case, by the Vienna Mint visually-hidden becoming a Captain in August(Verwundetenabzeichen in Gold mit Etui). Constructed of gilded tombak, the obverse consisting of an oval laurel leaf wreath, joined together at the bottom by ribbon, with a central raised Stahlhelm overlaid by a mobile swastika, on top of crossed swords on a pebbled field, the reverse with a clip hinge and vertical pinback meeting a flat wire catch, unmarked but demonstrating the characteristics of manufacture by the Vienna Mint, measuring 36. 46 mm