Army Paratrooper Badge (Fallschirmschützen-Abzeichen des Heeres). On 4 October 1936 the Army ordered the institution of its own parachute company, a 'Fallschirm Infanterie Kompanie'. On 1 June 1938, the Fallschirm Infanterie Kompanie was officially expanded to the 'Fallschim Infanterie Batallion'. On 1 September 1937, 'Generaloberst Freiherr von Fritsch' authorized the Army paratrooper qualification badge. Members of the Fallschirm Infanterie Bataillon continued to wear their original issue Army paratrooper badges after the transfer to the Luftwaffe on 1 January 1939. On 18 December 1943 all former members of the Fallschirm Infanterie Bataillon were officially awarded the Luftwaffe version of the paratrooper badge, but very few opted to wear it in place of their original Army badges. On 1 June 1943 the Army Paratrooper badge was reinstituted for award to qualifying personnel serving with the '15./Brandenburg Fallschirm-Kompanie' of the Brandenburg Division. The badge is executed in 'Zink' with a fair amount of its original silver and gold finish remaining. The pin, catch and hinge are in nice working condition. The badge is not visible maker marked but can very likely be attributed to production by the company of 'Friedrich Linden' from Lüdenscheid. Desirable original badge in good used condition!