Anti-Partisan Badges"Bandenkampfabzeichen" in German. These were awarded to troops of all branches of the German Armed Forces who were engaged fighting partisan and resistance groups. The award was instituted on 30 January, 1944.
There were three grades, bronze, silver, and gold representing 20, 50 and 100 days of partisan fighting respectively.
The gold badge is exceedingly rare with only a handful ever being awarded. (Sources claim less than 20)
The badge is rarely seen in photos, and many troops considered it a liability much in the same way as a sniper badge due to the nature of the fighting- atrocities were the norm, not the exception. Wearing of the badge could endanger the life of the wearer if captured. Veterans comment that SS and Police troops were less averse to the wearing of it than troops of the other services.
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