Greek Badge for the War Disabled
A badge relatively regularly seen in the militaria market, but lacking documentation and therefore also usually misidentified, the War Disabled Badge of WW2 has largely remained unresearched and overseen.
The badge was instituted during the first month of the Axis Occupation with the Legislative Decree (L.D.) No.27 of May 11, 1941, published on the Official Government Gazette (O.G.G.) of May 12, 1941, Issue A, No 162, by the collaborationist government of the Hellenic State. The Decree listed the award criteria of the “honourary award for disabled Officers and privates due to war wounds”.
According to it:
“Disabled Officers and privates of the Land Army, the Air Force, the Navy and the Greek Gendarmerie, whether [they belong to] permanent staff or [to the] reserve are regarded as being on active service and also bearing the badge for the war disabled, according to the Regulation, in honour of their service to the Fatherland.”
Article 2 also mentioned:
“As War Disabled on active service, according to the previous article, are regarded:
Finally, the Decree repeated that the badge was only an honourary award, not related to any financial benefits, which were to be issued through different legal procedures.
The badge was instituted during the first month of the Axis Occupation with the Legislative Decree (L.D.) No.27 of May 11, 1941, published on the Official Government Gazette (O.G.G.) of May 12, 1941, Issue A, No 162, by the collaborationist government of the Hellenic State. The Decree listed the award criteria of the “honourary award for disabled Officers and privates due to war wounds”.
According to it:
“Disabled Officers and privates of the Land Army, the Air Force, the Navy and the Greek Gendarmerie, whether [they belong to] permanent staff or [to the] reserve are regarded as being on active service and also bearing the badge for the war disabled, according to the Regulation, in honour of their service to the Fatherland.”
Article 2 also mentioned:
“As War Disabled on active service, according to the previous article, are regarded:
- The ones having lost their eyesight from both eyes.
- The ones having suffered the dismemberment of both of their upper limbs.
- The ones having suffered the dismemberment of both of their lower limbs.
- Paraplegics or hemiplegics due to war wounds.
- Every other further category that will be regulated by the Supreme Military Medical Council.”
Finally, the Decree repeated that the badge was only an honourary award, not related to any financial benefits, which were to be issued through different legal procedures.
The design of the badge itself was regulated the following day with a Decree published on the O.G.G. of May 13, 1941, Issue A, No 163, in which it was described as: “[…] a small [badge] resembling the War Cross, made of iron, with a gold-gilt laurel and the sole inscription “ανάπηρος Πολέμου” (sic!) (“War Disabled”). |
It is evident that the War Cross in mention is the 1916-1917 medal and not its recently reinstituted 1940 design. This is an interesting point in regards to the reasons for this choice. By assumption, it may have been because the 1916-1917 did not bear any royal insignia, in contrast to the 1940 variation or because the latter, although instituted, may not have even been minted by that time and thus, no material form of it existed as a sound reference.
What is also noteworthy, is the fact that although the Decree regulated that only the laurel was to be gold-gilt, all recently seen badges have gilding on the entirety of their obverses, as well as their reverses. This might have been the result of the available metals during the first months of the Occupation, as well as a lack of tools and qualified staff necessary for detailed, quality work.
A later L.D., No 1862/1942, complementing the previous one and published on O.G.G. of October 13, 1942, Issue A, No 260, regulated that:
“The right to bear the badge is held by the members of the Federations of Disabled Officers and Privates, as long as they are equipped with the respective identification card, issued by the Ministry of National Defense.”
A further paragraph regulated the strict legal penalties for unrightfully bearing the badge.
I hope that this short article has helped in the documentation of this overseen award and that further research will bring more evidence in the future.
What is also noteworthy, is the fact that although the Decree regulated that only the laurel was to be gold-gilt, all recently seen badges have gilding on the entirety of their obverses, as well as their reverses. This might have been the result of the available metals during the first months of the Occupation, as well as a lack of tools and qualified staff necessary for detailed, quality work.
A later L.D., No 1862/1942, complementing the previous one and published on O.G.G. of October 13, 1942, Issue A, No 260, regulated that:
“The right to bear the badge is held by the members of the Federations of Disabled Officers and Privates, as long as they are equipped with the respective identification card, issued by the Ministry of National Defense.”
A further paragraph regulated the strict legal penalties for unrightfully bearing the badge.
I hope that this short article has helped in the documentation of this overseen award and that further research will bring more evidence in the future.
References:
1. Legislative Decree No 27 of May 11, 1941, Official Government Gazette of May 12, 1941, Issue A, No 162
2. Decree of May 12, 1941, Official Government Gazette of May 13, 1941, Issue A, No 163
3. Legislative Decree No 1049/1942 of January 31, 1942, Official Government Gazette of February 23, 1942, Issue A, No 35
4. Legislative Decree No 1862/1942 of September 23, 1942, Official Government Gazette of October 13, 1942, Issue A, No 260
1. Legislative Decree No 27 of May 11, 1941, Official Government Gazette of May 12, 1941, Issue A, No 162
2. Decree of May 12, 1941, Official Government Gazette of May 13, 1941, Issue A, No 163
3. Legislative Decree No 1049/1942 of January 31, 1942, Official Government Gazette of February 23, 1942, Issue A, No 35
4. Legislative Decree No 1862/1942 of September 23, 1942, Official Government Gazette of October 13, 1942, Issue A, No 260