This is authentic Bavarian veterans badge & ribbon of WW1. Veterans earned this award for membership in the Soldier's association following service in the Army (veterans).

Description:

- Gold plated stamped brass w/painted details & silk ribbon.

Obverse:

- The badge at the top is a crown & sword w/a painted blue & white (Bavarian Colors) Diamond patterned shield & reads, "In Treue Fest" (In True Faith).

- Full size w/blue & white ribbon & metal fringes at the bottom. The ribbon reads, "Mitgliedschaft d.B.V.-, K. & K. - Bundes" (Membership of the B.V., K.& K. - Federal) at the left & "Soldaten-Verein, Schnaittach & Umgeb." (Soldiers' Association of Schnaittach and Surround Areas) at the right.

Reverse:

Maker Marked: Block - Deschler, München - Giesing. Vertical "safety pin" type w/"saddle" mount.

Measurements (approximate):

Height: 4 1/2"

Width: 1 7/16"

History (German Warrior League):

Deutscher Kriegerbund (German Warrior League) was a War Veterans' Association established in April 1873 (in Weissenfels). Its origins lie in a Warrior Association established in 1786 by fusiliers of Frederick II of Prussia's army. The original purpose of the War Veterans' Associations was to provide their members and former soldiers with proper burial arrangements. Former soldiers felt the need of commemorative tombs that would preserve the dignity of their former comrades-in-arms and honor them even after death. This type of association received a considerable boost after Prussia's victorious battles against the Danish (1864), Austrians (1866), and French armies (1871).

A number of these veterans' associations established the "Deutscher Kriegerbund" by joining efforts for a common cause in 1873. In April 1897 the Deutscher Kriegerbund became the "Prussian Country's Warrior League" (Preußischer Landeskriegerverband). Its former name "Deutscher Kriegerbund" was kept, however, for certain economic and social dealings only. Since it was initially dominated by groups of soldiers of the former Prussian army, local veterans' associations of Bavaria, Saxony, Württemberg, Hessen and Baden preferred to remain out of its circle. The Deutscher Kriegerbund began the efforts in 1888 to build a memorial that would honor and represent all German warriors. This monument, located on top of the 473 m high Kyffhäuser mountain was finally inaugurated on 16 June 1896. The memorial pleased and inspired the other German war veterans' associations, who had been reticent to join the Deutscher Kriegerbund & the steps necessary to form a wider organization were taken in 1900 culminating in the formation of the Kyffhäuserbund. This inclusive organization integrated the formerly scattered German war veterans' associations, one of the main aims of the Deutscher Kriegerbund.