Germany, Third Reich. A Pair of Viking-Themed Badges for Political and Military Personnel

(Wikingerabzeichen). A pair of Norse-themed badges, including:

1. A 1937 NSDAP Gautag Weser-Ems (Oldenburg) commemorative badges, constructed of gilded magnetic metal, the obverse bearing a raised VIking longship, circumscribed by an inscription of “20.-30. MAI 1937 GAUTAG WESER-EMS IN OLDENBURG”, joined together at the bottom by a mobile swastika, the reverse with a vertical pinback, unmarked, measuring 38 mm in diameter, demonstrating some loss of finish to high-contact points, in better than very fine condition.

2. A Kriegsmarine U-211 traditions badge, constructed of aluminum, the obverse bearing a black Viking longship, with its sail bearing a Sig rune, perforated with three eyelets for sew-on attachment to a cap, unmarked, measuring 42 mm (w) x 40 mm (h), a scarce example in extremely fine condition.

Footnote: A Type VIIC U-Boat, U-211 was launched on 15 January 1942 and commissioned on 7 March under the command of Kovettenkapitän Karl Hause. Assigned to eight wolfpacks, she sank a warship of 1,350, and damaged a further three commercial vessels for a total score of 31,883 gross register tons over five patrols. U-211 was sunk by British aircraft in the North Atlantic on 19 November 1943 with the loss of all hands.