Germany. A Weimar Republic Period Freikorps Schlageter Badge; Second Type By P. Küst

An example of a very well preserved Weimar Freikorps Schlageter badge; second type; an oval badge constructed of silvered bronze with very fine details; the obverse with a Christina cross, inscribed “Schlageter”, “Spartakus”, and dated “1919/23” with crossed swords within a wreath consisting of laurel leaves on the left side, and oak leaves on the right side, separated by a bow on the bottom; the reverse plain, with a vertical pinback, with all four prongs fully intact; clearly marked “Paul Küst Abzeichen Ordenfabrik Berlin, S.W. 19” and marked “Ges. Gesch.” on the reverse; measuring 48.34 mm (w) x 60.58 mm (h); weighing 34.7 grams; in overall extremely fine condition.

Footnote: Albert Leo Schlageter (August 12, 1894 - May 26, 1923) was a member of the German Freikorps. After the outbreak of the First World War, he became a voluntary emergency worker for the military. During the war, he participated in several battles, notably Ypres (1915), the Somme (1916) and Verdun, earning both the Iron Cross First and Second Classes. Following his promotion to second lieutenant, he took part in the Third Battle of Ypres (1917). After the war and his dismissal from the greatly reduced army, Schlageter described himself as a student of political sciences, but he studied the subject at the most for one year. About this time, he became a member of a right-wing Catholic student group. Soon he also joined the Freikorps and took part in the Kapp Putsch and other battles between military and communist factions that were convulsing Germany. His unit also took part in the Silesian Uprisings fighting on the German side. Already close to Nazis, around the time of the Battle of Annaberg of 1921, Schlageter's unit merged with the emerging Nazi Party. During the Third Silesian Uprising of 1921, Schlageter became infamous for persecuting local people and for terrorist actions against both Poles and Germans whom he and his group perceived as opposing his cause. Following the French occupation of the Ruhr in 1923, he led a group of nationalists in sabotage operations against the occupying force. The group managed to derail a number of trains. On April 7, 1923, information on Schlageter and his activities was obtained by the French, and he was arrested the following day. Tried by court-martial on May 7, 1923, he was condemned to death. On the morning of May 26th, he was executed on the Golzheimer heath near Düsseldorf. His way of death fostered an aura of martyrdom around him, which was cultivated by German nationalist groups, in particular the Nazi Party. During the Third Reich, he was widely commemorated as a national hero.