Imperial Germany, WW1, Naval Zeppelin Badge

Description

Imperial Germany, WW1, Naval Zeppelin Badge. In over 40 years of collecting this is only the second one of these I’ve come across. The first was smaller and black and from the court jeweler Junker which indicates there were private purchases along with issued awards.
These badges were awarded from 1920-1922 for service in the Naval Zeppelins during the Great War. Reichwehr Minister Otto Gessler authorized memorial badges for both Army and Naval Zeppelin crews. Upon request, it was awarded to all crews of former Zeppelins who had at least one year of active service which could be waived in case of injury.
Naval Zeppelins were mainly used for reconnaissance over the Baltic and North Sea to lead warships to allied vessels and clear mine fields. In 1915 the Imperial Navy had 15 Zeppelins in commission allowing constant patrolling. Both Army and Navy Zeppelins conducted bombing raid in Britain.