Adolf Hitler's Golden NSDAP Badges.

ChrisKelly · December 14

"In Hitler's biographical book, Mein Kampf, he declared that his Nazi Party membership was number '7.' During the creation of his personal .750 gold Nazi Party Badge, it was stamped with number '7' and his facsimile signature. In 1970, this badge was sold to a prominent German collector. The sale, along with photographs, was documented in Klaus D. Patzwall [de]'s book, The Golden Party Badge.

There has been, however, an incorrect assumption that Hitler's Golden Party Badge was numbered '1.' This belief stems from Hitler being re-issued Nazi membership '1' during the reformation of the NSDAP in 1925. Additional claims that his badge number was '1' come from several US militaria websites. They cite a single article which was printed in The Times of London in 2005. The authors of the news article stated that his Golden Party Badge according to Russian sources, was numbered '1.' The Times article also stated that the badge was stolen in 2005, right before being displayed at the State Archive of the Russian Federation Museum. The Russians reportedly explained that the guards thought the alarm was activated by a cat and this is why the break in was ignored. Oddly, according to the article, after the theft was reported, the Federal Security Service insisted the stolen badge was a copy. No known photographs from the Russian archives show the reverse of Hitlers party badge as being numbered '1.'

Adolf Hitler's personal Golden Party Badge.

In 2004, Hitler's numbered '7' badge was auctioned by Hermann Historica, in Munich, Germany. The sale included written, sworn statements of authenticity by two persons very close to Hitler when he was the leader of Nazi Germany. These statements were made by Heinz Linge, Hitler's personal Valet and Reichs Press Photographer, Heinrich Hoffmann Jr., close friend of Hitler and son of Hitler's personal photographer, Heinrich Hoffmann, Sr.

In Linge's sworn statement, he explained that, as the valet responsible for dressing Hitler daily, he was able to verify that the special .750 fine gold, number '7' party badge was worn by Hitler from 1937 until his death in 1945.

Anni Winter Hitler Golden Party Pins.

An additional statement regarding Hitler's personal badges was given by his long-time housekeeper Anni Winter, also mentioned in Hitler's Private Will and Testament. Winter was arrested by Bavarian State Authorities for theft of Hitler documents and artifacts from his home in Munich. Winter claimed the items in question were given to her by Hitler. A court battle ensued which lasted over 3 years. Listed in a signed 1953 attestation of items given to her by Hitler, were his small and large pre-1937 golden party badges described as numbered '7.'"

"The only makers of the Golden Party Badge were the firms Joseph Fuess and Deschler & Sohn, both located in Munich."

Sources:

https://www.usmbooks.com/hitler_memorabilia.html

https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Golden_Party_Badge

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Party_Badge