Wound Badge Wound Badge ( ) was a German military award for wounded or frostbitten soldiers of Imperial German Army in World War I , the Reichswehr between the wars , and the Wehrmacht , SS and the auxiliary service organizations during the Second World War . After March 1943 , due to the increasing number of Allied bombings , it was also awarded to injured civilians . It was ultimately one of the most common of all Third Reich decorations , yet also one of the most highly prized , since it had to be " bought with blood " . Classes . The badge had three classes : black ( 3rd class , representing Iron ) , for those wounded once or twice by hostile action ( including air raids ) , or frostbitten in the line of duty ; silver ( 2nd class ) for being wounded three or four times , or suffering loss of a hand , foot or eye from hostile action ( also partial loss of hearing ) , facial disfigurement or brain damage via hostile action ; and in gold ( 1st class , which could be awarded posthumously ) for five or more times wounded , total blindness , " loss of manhood " , or severe brain damage via hostile action . Badges exist in pressed steel , brass and zinc , as well as some base metal privately commissioned versions . Those of the First World War were also produced in a cutout pattern . All versions of the Wound Badge were worn on the lower left breast of the uniform or tunic . The badge was worn below all other awards on the left . It is thought that more than 5 million were awarded during World War II . In 1957 , a revised version of the Wound Badge was authorised for wear ; however , the previous type could still be worn if the swastika was removed ( for example by grinding ) . The unaltered Second World War version is shown in the illustration to the right . Wound Badges were primarily manufactured by the Vienna mint , and by the firm Klein & Quenzer . At first , the Wound badge in Black was stamped from sheet brass , painted semi - matt black , and had a hollow reverse with a needle pin attachment . From 1942 , steel was used to make the badges , which made them prone to rust . The Wound Badge in silver was made ( before 1942 ) from silver - plated brass , and ( after 1942 ) from lacquered zinc , and had a solid reverse with either a needle pin or a broad flat pin bar . The Wound Badge in Gold was a gilded version of the Wound Badge in Silver . " Automatic " Iron Cross . On 1 June 1940 , Hitler decreed that any recipient of the Wound Badge in Silver or Gold be automatically awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class if that individual did not already have that decoration . This pluralism meant that , for example , a sailor who lost a hand or foot in action while serving on an E - boat at the Kuban bridgehead would receive not only the Wound Badge in Silver , but also the Fast Attack Craft War Badge , the Kuban Shield , and the Iron Cross 2nd Class , purely on account of the wound sustained . Wound Badge of 20 July 1944 . The 20th of July Wound Badge is by far the rarest of these awards , as it was only issued to those injured during the failed attempt on Adolf Hitler ' s life at the Wolf ' s Lair headquarters in Rastenburg , East Prussia . Twenty - four were present when the bomb detonated . One officer was killed and three succumbed to their wounds a short time later . Hitler , believing this to be a " moment of destiny " for him , personally directed the designing of a special badge commemorating the event . The 20 July Wound Badge is based on the common Wound Badge , but the helmet is slightly higher and larger ; it also bears the date " 20 Juli 1944 " and a facsimile of Hitler ' s signature below the helmet and date . The 20 July Wound Badges were made in all three grades of black , silver , and gold . All of these wound badges were made by the Junckner firm and were made out of solid hallmarked silver . Recipients who had already been previously awarded regulation Wound Badges were awarded the 20 July Wound Badge in a higher grade . Unlike the Wound Badge in Black , the 20 July Wound Badge in Black was not all black . Only the helmet and wreath were black ; the background was in silver so that the date and facsimile signature could be seen . The 20 July Wound Badge in gold also had a silver background with the helmet and wreath colored gold . The 20 July Wound Badge in silver has black highlights on the helmet swastika , the date , and the facsimile signature . Unlike the standard Wound Badges , these were of two - piece construction . Hitler presented the survivors with the special wound badge as well as a unique award document in a ceremony on 2 September 1944 . Although Hitler had been injured in the bombing , he did not give one of these badges to himself . Hitler had earned his own Wound Badge ( in black ) in World War I . He had awarded himself the Golden Party Badge number 1 , but this was a political badge and not a military medal . The four posthumous awards were sent to the recipients ' next - of - kin . These medals were all plated in gold , including the background . The badge replaced the basic 1939 Wound Badge on those persons who were presented the 20 July Badge . It is important to note however that this badge was more a personal gift from Hitler to those involved , and was intended to be a treasured one - off souvenir of a momentous historical event , and thus was not expected to be worn . While Field Marshal Keitel and Colonel - General Jodl for example did wear their 20 July wound badges on their tunics , other recipients preferred to wear their regular wound badges . Recipients of the 20 July wound badge could have their 20 July wound badges upgraded if they earned higher grades of the Wound Badge . Konteradmiral Hans - Erich Voss eventually had the 20 July Wound Badge in all three grades , earning it in black on 20 July 1944 , and having it upgraded twice for subsequent battles .