REPRODUCTION of a German WWII Cloth Sniper's Badge 3rd Class

The Sniper's Badge was instituted on 20 August 1944 for those personnel who were employed specifically as snipers. The award came in three classes: 1) 3rd for 20 kills; 2) 2nd for 40 kills; and 3) 1st for 60 kills. The badge was worn on the right cuff above any other insignia that was also worn on the cuff. The basic design was the same for all awards. However the 2nd and 1st class awards were different in that they had a silver and gold cord respectively around the outside edge of the badge.

The badge is machine woven consisting of a black eagle's head rising above three green oak leaves with a small corn on the left on a field gray wool background. The eagle's eye and beak are worked in yellow thread and the feathers are highlighted in silver thread. Measures 2 1/2 x 3 inches. Listing is for (1), photo shows front and back.