Frauenschaft Badges, Part 1

Nazi Women’s League and German W0men’s Work (National-Sozialistische Frauenschaft und Deutsches Frauenwerk)

Probably two of the most complex, and misunderstood organizations of the Nazi regime were the N.S. Frauenschaft and the Deutsches Frauenwerk. The N.S. Frauenschaft was formed in 1933 following Hitler's rise to power but did not get much steam for about a year. This league was the propaganda spearhead to bring Nazi ideals to the German girls and women. It encompassed all of the lesser female groups like the BDM and JM, as well as the Frauenwerk (in later years). Members of the Frauenschaft spread the teachings on everything from motherhood to domestic affairs and business. Membership was mandatory for all women from 18 to 30 years of age.

The Deutsches Frauenwerk was created in 1938 and put into service the following year. Realizing that Germany was about to become involved in a major world conflict Hitler knew that replacements would be necessary for the male workforce that was about to go to war. It was obvious that women would have to be used to fill the gaps where men had once worked. Though the Frauenschaft was under the direction of the N.S.D.A.P., and the Frauenwerk hid underneath the skirts of the Frauenschaft, the Women’s Work Force was allowed to remain somewhat independent of the mother organization. Members of the Frauenschaft joined the Deutsches Frauenwerk if they were part of the industrial working populace, though membership was voluntary in the Women's Work. The leadership and staff of this group were picked from the main ranks of the Frauenschaft, hence, there are no specific Frauenwerk Leader’s Badges and the like.

The resultant badges that were struck have proved to be confusing for today’s historian and collector because of the multitude of types, styles and shapes. There were decorations for just about everyone in and out of the Frauenschaft organization. As a hard rule the main badges discussed in this section of the text went through three basic design changes.

All badges referred to were produced:

Type I — 1933

Type II — 1934 until 1938

Type III — 1939 until 1944

The differences among the many types and variants will be discussed in the ensuing pages.

The badges signified quite adequately the rank structure of the league. All staff and leader’s badges were produced to immediately identify the level of responsibility of the wearer. The colored outer border surrounding the general badge motif was coded for specific geographical locations:


Blue —- Orts (Locality or city)

Black (Type II)

White (Type III) —— Kreis (District)

Red — Gau (Province)

Yellow —— Reichs (State)

This color scheme was also carried out in the D.A.F. female badges, and most probably by the N.S.K.O.V., although the latter is unclear.

The information presented herein will hopefully clear up many of the tangled misunderstandings about the badges that represented these women’s leagues. For specific reference purposes, and to formulate a common language among the collecting society, collectors and dealers alike should refer to a badge as specifically and accurately as possible: "Type II Staff Badge for Gau Level", etc.

Member’s Badges of the Nazi W0men’s League(Abzeichen fur Mitglieder der N.S. Frauenschaft)


As stated in the short preamble to this section the basic member's badge of the Nazi’s League went through three basic design changes.

Type I of 1933, the only year this was produced, was 23.5 mm in diameter, and was a virtual copy of the N.S.D.A.P. party badge. The only difference being the wording on the outer border of "Frauenschaft N.S.D.A.P." in lieu of the Nazi party inscription. There was also a slight variant to this badge that used "Nat. Soz. Frauenschaft" instead of the former verse. The metal base was a high quality silver/nickel composition. Almost all of these badges were made by “‘Osang-Dresden", though there may have been a very small number of other makers. The total number of these badges made is not known.

Type II utilized an entirely different enamel altogether. lt had a new triangular shape specifically created to be worn by a woman as a brooch on the collar or lapel. Its measurements were 25.5mm by 27mm. The design carried a central white enamel cross on a black enamel field. A horizontal red enamel swastika was in the center. On the left and right arms, as well as the bottom leg of the cross were the letters "G", "H".and "L". It is not known what these particular letters stood for, since they appear to have no relation to the title of the organization. "Nat. Soz. Frauenschaft" was imprinted in metal letters across the top of the badge inside of a white enamel banner. The basic metal of this badge was copper plated with a gilt wash. Lettering, cross, swastika and outer edging were all in this gilt metal. It should be noted that there were variants of this badge that are twice the size of the basic member’s Type II, and less than half the given measurements (see above). These were separate purchase items from the league.

The same shape was retained in the Type III Member’s Badge but a new design was added. A "life rune" replaced the white cross on the Type II. This symbol looked very similar to a legless stickman. A mobile swastika was placed at the top of the rune. The top enamel banner was replaced with a metal one surrounding the title "N.S. Frauenschaft". All words were in red enamel. Note the difference in the group`stile in this Type III as opposed to the II style. The title was somewhat shortened to just "N.S .... " instead of "Nat". The basic background of this 31mm by 31.5mm badge was black enameling.

Badges produced in 1939 to 1940 of the Type III series were nickel, but after this date until 1944 the base was copper with nickel overlay. The top banner, life rune, mobile swastika and outer trim were all in base metal silver. There were only two sizes of this item made during wartime Germany. The standard size has already been noted, with the smaller size being 23.5mm by 23.5mm, about 2/3 size. This Type III Member’s Badge and the Deutsches Frauenwerk were the same shape and design (with the titles being all dirrerent). and both had smaller like insignia. Badges produced in 1944 were of painted familia on zinc metal.

Type I Frauenschaft Member’s Badge was producedin 1933; Type II was in effect from 1934 to 1938; the Type III produced from 1939-44. All N.S. Frauenschaft badges were produced under strict Reich guidelines since this league was an officially touted group under the N.S.D.A.P. Each badge struck had the RZM quality stamp, and was almost always maker marked with the companies' "M" series code (M1/72etc.). All had the standard spring pin/catch on the reverse, some being vertical, others horizontal. As a general rule all badges were slightly convex in shape although this cannot be a point of authentication.

I have one Type II Leader's Badge that appears to be avariant. It is flat instead of convex, the red enamel swastika is slightly smaller, the RZM marking is somewhat larger with only one circle where most have two, and the maker’s logo is larger than normal. The base metal, however, says this is a pre-45 piece though this particular badge may have been a test strike by a company that never received a state contract. As such they never went into mass production. Here again the point is made that only a collector’s experience, expertise, and gut feeling can really determine originality of a questionable badge.

Staff Badges of the Nazi W0men’s League (Mitarbeiter-Abzeichen der N.S. Frauenschaft)

In 1934 as the N.S. Frauenschaft grew, N.S.D.A.P. officials put together a complex system of ranks and offices. Cities were banded together into "Kreise" (districts), and these were incorporated into "Gaue" (provinces). In all there were 34 provinces within Germany. Women of the Frauenschaft formed groups in each community, or "Ort". Each of these local organizations had leaders appointed to key positions such as treasurer, chief, etc. by the state. A central office in each Kreis oversaw the business of the individual towns, and another central office governed the entire province. There was, as one might expect, a head office at the Reich level.

Each officer of these geographical districts received a special Staff Badge in honor of her position in the league. The group’s leader received another type of badge, which we will discuss shortly. Staff Badges in all levels were identical except for an outer 1.5mm colored border signifying the particular level of each official. In the preamble you can find the color codes of the Frauenschaft league, as well as the segmenton DAF Female Badges.

During the span of the Third Reich there were two distinct versions of the Staff Badges for the Nazi Women’s League.Type II adopted in 1934 had the same cross and triangular design as the Type II Member’s Badge. This Staff Badge measured 30mm by 31mm, just slightly larger than the Member"s badge of the same series. As pointed out above, the brightly colored enamel border or "Aussenrand" in German, indicated to other league members the level of the wearer in the organization. Each badge was RZM’d and hallmarked.

One small difference between the Staff Badge and the standard Member's Badge was the metal base. Staff Badges had asilver/nickel base in the Type II series from 1934 until about 1936. Thereafter, the Type II Staff was produced with a copper metal core and silver outer plate. This copper core/silverwash was carried through to the Type III. But all Type II (andType III) Staff Badges had the silver color on all metal parts. Remember, the Type II Member’s Badge was copper with gilt wash? Well, the Staff Badges changed that for the rest of the organizational insignia for the group.

When the Type III Staff Badges were born on the designer’s sketch pad. and mass produced from 1939 to 1944, a new rank system was devised to allow for better representation of each office through the badges. There was now a Staff Badge for the "Wider" staff (heads of departments, etc.), and one for the "Closer" Staff (direct officers of the league). The Type III Wider Staff Badge was slightly different from the same series Members decoration. Since this was wartime, a German army type eagle was sat atop the central life rune, and the top banner eliminated with the wording clad against the black enamel background. The words and eagle/swastika were in silver. Surrounding this design was the 1.5 mm level border with a thin silver outside edge. This edge is the key difference between the wider and closer insignia. Measurements of the Wider Staff Badge were 30.5mm by 30.5mm. The base metal was silver/nickel plate over copper but in 1944 this was switched to nickel over zinc core.


The insignia of rank for the Type III Closer Staff Badge was identical to the previously described badge, except for the lmm wide silver border. It was almost the same size at 30.5mm by 31mm. Once again the base was copper with nickel/silver plate. All Staff Badges have the maker’s M serial mark on the reverse. The Type II was made with a horizontal spring pin/catch, while the Type III badges were produced with vertical assemblies. No statistics were kept of the numbers presented or produced from 1934 to 1944.

To be continued...

J.R. Cone, "One People, One Reich - Enameled Organizational Badges of Germany 1918-1945", MCN Press, 1983