The eagle badge is the best-known emblem of Nazi-era German uniforms. It shows a stylised eagle, usually holding a swastika, and German armed forces personnel wore it on tunics and caps. Collectors often call the uniform version the Wehrmacht eagle or breast eagle. This article covers the main types, where they were worn, how to check an original and the legal limits on owning or selling one.
The main types
The state eagle (Reichsadler)
The state eagle was adopted as Germany’s national emblem in 1935. It was used on official flags, documents and state symbols, and it appeared on some uniforms. It is the eagle most people mean when they talk about the Reich.
The party eagle (Parteiadler)
The party eagle was the emblem of the Nazi Party (NSDAP). It is a separate design from the state eagle, so do not treat the two as interchangeable. Party insignia are a specialist field, and dealers do not always label them clearly.
Branch eagles
Each armed service had its own uniform eagle, and the designs and materials varied:
- Army (Heer): the breast eagle worn on the tunic and the cap. It was made in woven, embroidered and metal versions.
- Luftwaffe: a more dynamic eagle style, worn on tunics and flight caps.
- Navy (Kriegsmarine): a different design, usually rendered in gold or silver thread on a dark background.
- Waffen-SS and police: distinct designs. Check a reference for these, as details vary.
Where eagles were worn
The breast eagle was worn on the right breast of the tunic, above the right breast pocket. A smaller cap eagle was worn on the front of the service cap and on field caps such as the M43. Other eagle designs appeared on flags, documents and equipment, and those are beyond the scope of this article.
Identifying an original eagle
No single feature settles it. Use several checks together.
- Material and construction. Woven and machine-embroidered eagles were produced in very large numbers. A hand-embroidered piece is not automatically more genuine, and a machine-made piece is not automatically fake. Look at the backing, the thread and the consistency of the stitching.
- Metal eagles. Check the pin and catch, as you would for any metal badge. Modern pins, or glue where a pin should be, are a warning sign.
- Maker marks. Many wartime uniform items carry RZM numbers, which take their name from the Reichszeugmeister, the Nazi-era uniform office that assigned them. Treat a marking as a clue, not proof, because marks can be added or copied.
- Attachment. Original eagles were sewn or pinned on. Signs of later tacking, fresh stitching or adhesive suggest the eagle was moved to another item.
- Wear. The wear should match the age and use of the piece. A uniform new look on an old item is a warning sign.
- Cut-out eagles. Many eagles had the swastika cut out after the war. These are historically real and are collected, but they should be described honestly. A listing that hides the cut-out is misleading.
The pillar guide covers the general authentication checklist in more detail.
Legal and display notes
In Germany, using and distributing Nazi-era symbols, including the swastika and the eagle with a swastika, is restricted under section 86a of the German Criminal Code. There are exemptions for education, art and history. Other countries apply their own rules, and these can affect sales, shipping and public display. Check the law where you live and where you buy or sell before you act.
Related reading
If you are unsure what the eagle is called, read what the WWII German eagle is called. For the modern federal eagle, which has no swastika, see does Germany still use the eagle symbol. For the wider badge context, the WWII German military badges guide explains how the eagle fits alongside combat and wound badges.