Bergwacht Hilfspolizei Badge

The mountain rescue service was actually an aid, rescue and order organization for the alpine country and rough terrain.

The first mountain rescue services were founded in Germany in 1920 and shortly thereafter the mountain accident service under the umbrella of the German Red Cross. In 1923 the mountain rescue service was already divided into 3 departments: Munich, Chiemgau and Allgäu. In Austria, the foundation of the first mountain rescue service dates back to 1896.
There the Alpine Rescue Committee Vienna (ARAW) was founded as the first in the world. In the years that followed, the Alpine Rescue Society Innsbruck 1898, the Alpine Rescue Committee Munich 1898, Salzburg 1901 and Graz 1902.

After the National Socialists seized power in 1933, the German Mountain Rescue Service was founded as part of the process of conformity. After the annexation of Austria in 1938, the associations there were also integrated into the German Mountain Rescue Service. In 1939 the mountain rescue service was also given the task of nature conservation in the Alpine country.

It is not exactly known from which year the mountain rescue service was sworn in as an auxiliary police force. The badges donated or worn for this purpose are marked with the respective name of the department or area. Due to the short duration until the end of the war and the few people who were entitled to wear these badges are very rare. In addition, the badges are always provided with a blackened carrier number.

Badge made of embossed, silver-plated sheet iron. The front with applied, silver-plated national eagle with spread wings. The writing ring on the edge and the crossbar lined with green vitreous enamel. The back with a horizontal non-ferrous metal pin soldered on.