Bundesrepublik BAVARIAN FIREMAN’S PERFORMANCE BADGE

[Gordon Craig]

BAYERNISCHES - FEUERWEHR LEISTUNGSABZEICHEN

BAVARIAN FIREMAN’S PERFORMANCE BADGE

AUTHORIZED IN BRONZE, SILVER AND GOLD IN 1959. THE BADGES MEASURED 35MM X 45MM

THE BADGES WERE AWARDED ON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A PERFORMANCE TEST. THE FIREMAN HAD TO WAIT 2 YEARS UNTIL HE COULD TAKE THE PERFORMANCE TEST AGAIN FOR A HIGHER LEVEL BBADGE..

THE BRONZE BADGE WAS FIRST ISSUED IN 1959, THE SILVER BADGE WAS FIRST ISSUED IN 1961 AND THE GOLD BADGE WAS FIRST ISSUED IN 1966.

THE STAGES OF THE BADGE WERE;

BRONZE - LEVEL I

SILVER - LEVEL II

GOLD - LEVEL III - SECOND COMPLETION OF LEVEL II

THE FIRST BRONZE AND SILVER BADGES WERE STAMPED, HOLLOW AND PERFORATED. THEY MAY BE FOUND WITH TWO DIFFERENT PIN DEVICES. A SINGLE THIN PIN WITH A SEPARATE HINGE AND LATCH AND A ONE PIECE HINGE AND LATCH ON A FLAT PIECE OF METAL. THE ONE PIECE HINGE/LATCH ARRANGEMENT APPEARS TO BE OF A LATER PERIOD THAN THE SEPARATE HINGE AND LATCH.

THE FIRST GOLD BADGES WERE SOLID WITH A SIMPLE OPEN DESIGN ON THE BACK AND HAD A TWO PIECE HINGE AND LATCH CONFIGURATION. BEGINNING IN THE LATE 1990s THE BADGES WERE HOLLOW BACKED WITH THE ONE PIECE HINGE AND LATCH.

IN 1997 THREE NEW LEVELS OF THIS BADGE WERE AUTHORIZED.

STAGE III - 3 GOLD AND BLUE - THIRD COMPLETION OF LEVEL II

STAGE III - 4 GOLD AND GREEN - FOURTH COMPLETION OF LEVEL II

STAGE III - 5 GOLD AND RED - FIFTH COMPLETION OF LEVEL II

THE SAME TWO YEAR PERIOD BETWEEN PERFORMANCE TEST WAS REQUIRED FOR THE AWARDING OF THESE BADGES. THE GOLD AN D RED BADGE WAS EARNED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2003.

ALL BADGES EARNED CAME WITH A RIBBON BAR AND A STICK PIN FOR WEAR WITH CIVILIAN CLOTHES. THE RIBBON BARS WERE THE COLOUR OF THE AWARD FOR THE FIRST THREE LEVELS WITH A SILVER MINIATURE OF THE BADGE IN THE CENTRE OF THE RIBBON. FOR THE NEXT THREE LEVELS THE RIBBON WAS GOLD WITH A SILVER MINIATURE OF THE BADGE IN THE CENTRE AND HAD A BLUE, GREEN OR RED STRIPE ON BOTH EDGES OF THE RIBBON BAR TO DENOTE THE LEVEL OF THE AWARD.

IN THE YEAR 2000 THE LEVELS WERE CHANGED TO BE KNOW AS LEVEL 1 TO 6.

THIS BADGE ALSO EXISTS IN AN EMBROIDERED TYPE BUT ONLY IN SILVER AND GOLD BULLION.

ONLY THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF BADGE IS WORN.

THE FIRST PICTURES ARE OF THE BRONZE AND SILVER STAMPED, CUTOUT BADGES.

[Gordon Craig]

THE GOLD AND RED BADGE SHOWING THE NEXT STYLE OF BADGE WITH A SOLID BACK AND THE FINAL DESIGN IN THE GOLD AND BLUE VERSION WITH THE HOLLOW BACK.

[Gordon Craig]

THE RIBBON BARS. I DO NOT HAVE A PICTURE OF THE LEVEL III BAR AT THIS TIME.

[Gordon Craig]

THE EMBROIDERED BADGE IN SILVER. I DO NOT HAVE A PICTURE OF A GOLD EMBROIDERED BADGE TO SHOW AT THIS TIME.

[turtle]

Nice collection of fire brigade items you have!!

[Gordon Craig]

Turtle,

Thanks for the kind words.

Regards,

Gordon