✚9716✚ German post WW1 Freikorps Self-defence Battalion von Heydebreck pin badge

£89.99

Original German post WW1 (Weimar Republic) Freikorps Volunteer Fighters / Self-defence Battalion von Heydebreck (Freikorps Freiwillige Jägerschar / Selbstschutz-Bataillon von Heydebreck) - IN VERY NICE CONDITION, FINE EXAMPLE OF A RARE AWARD, HARD TO FIND, SIZE (WITHOUT / WITH THE PIN): 33 mm / 95 mm 

HISTORY OF THE AWARD:

Freikorps Volunteer Fighters / Self-defence Battalion von Heydebreck (Freikorps Freiwillige Jägerschar / Selbstschutz-Bataillon von Heydebreck) - The Freikorps Heydebreck badge is generally 3.3 cm and has long flat pins fastened through a navy blue wool backing and an egg-shaped back-plate. As the badge likely came from military stores (the badge is almost identical to the Marine officer's Imperial Crown sleeve badge), rather than being specifically made for the Freikorps, it's quite possible that slight variations existed as far as size and manufacture goes. The badge comes in all kinds of slightly different configurations, both solid-backed and hollow with a needle pin or splints for attaching and some even marked 800 silver. For years a debate has raged as to whether Freikorps von Heydebreck wore the Imperial crown as a sleeve badge or hat badge. There are some postcards / photos show that the crown is worn both on the hat and the sleeve. Hans-Adam Otto von Heydebreck, called Peter von Heydebreck (1 July 1889, in Köslin – 30 June 1934, in Stadelheim Prison) was a German Freikorps- and SA leader, member of the Reichstag. Heydebreck served as an officer in the German Army in World War I. During the German revolution of November 1918, he founded the Freikorps named after him. During the Third Silesian Uprising in 1921, his troops were foremost in the reconquest of the low mountain at the centre of the Battle of Annaberg, gaining for Von Heydebreck the epithet "the Hero of Annaberg". During the Röhm-Putsch in 1934, he was brought to Stadelheim Prison and killed by the SS, becoming one of the victims of the Night of the Long Knives.