How to Spot Fake and Reproduction Third Reich Awards

The mid-20th century German award market mixes genuine factory-made pieces with items produced by post-war reproduction houses and individual counterfeiters. Key differences often show up in what the piece is made from (zinc vs tombac/silvered brass), how details are formed (lost-wax or sand casting leaves different textures than machine stamping), and in the secondary hardware — pins, catches, hinges and soldering — which are hard to reproduce faithfully without period tooling.

This article concentrates on observable, verifiable signs: material anomalies, tooling marks and edges, inconsistent or poorly executed maker-marks, and non-period patina or pitting patterns that suggest artificial ageing. Where appropriate, it points to non-destructive testing and documentation checks that strengthen or weaken a claimed provenance.

Introduction – The Challenge of Fakes in WWII German Awards

Postwar demand for Third Reich bring-back items was extremely strong. Even today, materials from war veteran estates is coming to market for the very first time.

In the post-war years, some of the original companies contracted to produce these items, for instance and amongst others, Steinhauer & Luck, continued to make these awards using original dies* and materials. Such was the demand from occupation forces. Counterfeiters and forgers also emerged to meet this demand.

*Third Reich original dies were circulated after the war. This is a rare phenomena symptomatic of that extremely turbulent period. In comparison, old British state and military medal dies for instance, are held by the Royal Mint. Thus making their re-striking extremely unlikely.

Manufacturers in Pakistan and India emerged in the 1970s offering reproductions by mail order, delivered worldwide. Forgers emerged across Europe in the 1970s and 80s.

Today, many online stores and market sellers offer some convincing copies, often sold as "reenactors" items, probably originating from the India, Pakistan, and the Far East.

Figure X. Azam's outfitters mail order sales catalogue 1973. Azam' were reknowned for their extensive catalogues...of forgeries. Many still circulating today.

This concise guide aims to explain the common materials and manufacturing telltales (casting vs stamping, hardware types, maker-marks), plus the artificial ageing signs and provenance cues that help separate originals from reproductions.

The range of Third Reich awards, badges, and insignia is too vast to cover everything. There are many great publications and forums on the subject that can provide valuable information. Here you will find the important basics, along with images and cues.

Materials and Composition

A basic understanding of the materials used during the period is one of the foundations of identifying original German awards.

Depending on the award, manufacturer and production period, genuine examples can be encountered in materials including, tombac, brass, nickel silver, zinc, aluminium, iron and silver or silver-plated alloys.

Pre-war and early-war production awards frequently used higher-quality non-ferrous metals such as tombac. Tombac is a copper-rich brass alloy capable of taking fine detail and a high-quality plated or chemical surface finishes. Tombac awards exhibit:

• Fine detail from quality striking or casting;
• Strong retention of surface finishes;
• Reassuring weight and composition;
• Less commonality, higher realised prices.

As wartime material restrictions increased, many manufacturers moved towards zinc-based construction. Zinc became particularly common in awards produced during the later years of the war.

This change is important because zinc awards age differently from tombac examples. Zinc based awards badges can exhibit:

• Weaker detail and striking quality;
• Deteriorated, or complete loss of surface finishes;
• Grey or dull surfaces;
  
• Bubbling or lifting of plating;
• White/grey surface oxidation.
  

Sometimes the loss of the surface finish is referred to as being 'absorbed' into the zinc.

Figure x. Two original War Merit Crosses. Left made of tombac, the right of zinc. When issued the bronze finish would not have looked too dissimilar. The tombac award retains the bronze very well. The zinc award finish notably absent exposing the base substrate. A common feature of zinc awards.

By contrast, reproductions may use modern zinc alloys, inexpensive die-cast alloys sometimes described generically as "pot metal" (scrap metal thrown in to a melting pot and used to recast), brass or even resins. With the more recent advent of additive manufacturing technologies, it wouldn't surprise to see copies made in this manner appear at some point.

The important point is not to identify the exact material immediately, but to ask whether the material and its appearance are broadly consistent with a wartime-made award.

For most collectors, this starts with a few simple observations: does the piece feel unusually light or heavy, does the surface look cast or porous, is the metal behaving as expected with age, and does the overall construction look consistent with other genuine examples?

Some awards were produced in more than one material during the war, particularly as shortages affected manufacturing. An earlier example might be found in tombac while later production switched to zinc. Most if not all combat awards and lower grade awards fell into this category (War Merit Cross). This variation is normal and does not require the collector to memorise every manufacturer and material combination.

More detailed maker specific comparisons can come later if an item raises concerns. At the initial inspection stage, the aim is simply to identify anything that looks obviously inconsistent, modern or poorly manufactured.

Good strategy is to start from a place where you are proving authentic rather than merely assuming it. 

Weight

Weight can be useful when comparing two examples of the same known variant, but it should not normally be used by itself.

Small variations can result from different manufacturers, production batches, hardware and finishing processes. A reproduction made from a dense modern alloy can also deliberately approximate the correct weight.

Weight is therefore comparative evidence rather than proof.

Magnetism

A magnet can occasionally provide useful information.

For example, iron-cored decorations such as the Iron Cross should normally react where the iron core is exposed to the magnetic field, while many tombac, zinc and aluminium badges will not. Note, not all Iron Crosses were made with iron cores. In these cases, if it is not magnetic, it is not discounted, it sparks off other checks to be made.

Hardware can complicate the test. A non-magnetic badge may have a magnetic steel hinge, pin, or catch. Different components of the same award can be made from different metals and often are.

Again, the result needs to make sense for the specific award being examined.

Surface structure

Macro photography is particularly useful when comparing metals.

Original die-struck tombac normally displays a dense, relatively smooth structure beneath the finish. Zinc often has a noticeably different grain and ageing pattern.

Cast reproductions may exhibit:

• Porous surfaces;
• Pitting marks;
• Rounded detail;
• Granular texture.

These characteristics become far easier to recognise when viewed under magnification. And are compunded by inaccurate dies and poor striking.

ADD IMAGES OF:

macro shot comparison showing wartime tombac, aged zinc and a cast reproduction.

Original tombac
Original zinc
Modern cast alloy
Analytical tools

Collectors of very high end material occasionally use techniques such as X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) to identify the elemental composition of an object.

This can be useful when determining whether an alloy is consistent with known period production. It does not, however, date an object. A modern manufacturer can theoretically reproduce an old alloy composition should they have access to this information and material.

UV light is more useful when examining accompanying materials such as ribbons, paper, cases, adhesives and documents than the metal body of an award itself.

The important rule remains. Correct material supports authenticity. It does not prove authenticity by itself. One of the most useful skills a collector can develop is learning to recognise how an award was manufactured.

Manufacturing Methods

One of the most useful skills a collector can develop is learning to recognise how an award was manufactured.

Cast reproductions

Casting has historically been one of the easiest ways to reproduce an original badge.

A mould is taken from an existing usually original piece and another badge is cast from it. This process repeated and iterated. Each cycle of copying tends to lose some detail.

Typical indicators include:

• Softened or rounded detail;
• Loss of sharp edges, filled-in recesses;
• Surface pitting;
• Casting imperfection;
• Mould seams, machine marks, and irregular edges.
  
  

Figure X. Cast fake Hitler Youth Gausieger 1938 award. The poor quality mold and pot metal used in production is evident. Pitting, cracking, irregular edges.

Some copies may show dimensional shrinkage compared with the original from which the mould was taken. Original badge reference dimensions are useful.

The edge of an award is often overlooked. Examine the edges.

Original stamped pieces can show evidence of trimming, shearing or die-cutting appropriate to their production method. Cast reproductions may instead display a seam where two halves of a mould met.

Figure X. Edge of a Luftwaffe Air Gunner combat badge clearly showing casting mould join marks. This particular badge is actually well made and could easily pass as original for the casual observer or buyer.

Grinding may have been used to remove that seam or other blemishes, leaving an edge that looks unusually rounded or heavily worked.

Figure X. Flipping over the same Luftwaffe Air Gunner combat badge, note here the machine grinding marks on the edges and again those mould join marks.

As good as they identifiers are, the absence of casting marks is a false friend, it does not automatically prove authenticity.

Die stamped reproductions

Not every fake is cast. Reproductions are often die stamped. Dies are copied and even cast from original badges and awards. There are skilled counterfeiters out there.

Original German badges and decorations were produced by stamping or die striking. Steel dies applied considerable pressure to metal blanks, producing crisp relief and allowing large numbers of awards to be manufactured efficiently.

A well-made die-struck badge normally shows sharp rear detail and transitions between raised and recessed areas.

Look closely at details such as:

• Eagle features, feathers;
• Oak leaves and wreath edges;
• Lettering;
• Swastika edges;
• Award features such as rifle or sword details;
• Pebbling and textured backgrounds.

On genuine examples these details can often remain remarkably precise, even where the finish itself has worn.

Much like British cap badges, which are predominantly die struck, the techniques for spotting fakes are broadly similar. More of which can be found in our dedicated blog on this subject: Spotting fake British cap badges

Figure X. A Gruppe Frankfurt Main SS tinnie day badge fake. Not the reverse detail in lacking. This badge is of thin sheet metal yet the striking detail barely shows and the rear. Reject any die struck badge with such a feature.

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