Bidspirit auction | German Red Cross (DRK) Membership

German Red Cross (DRK) Membership Badge - A round enamel membership badge inscribed ”DEUTSCHES ROTES KREUZ” around a central red cross on a white ground, set within a textured blue outer border. The metal body appears to be a copper alloy, with a soldered fitting present on the reverse. Badges of this type were issued to members and supporters of the German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz), the national relief organization active through the Weimar and Third Reich periods, and were worn to denote affiliation with the society. The German Red Cross traced its origins to the 19th century as the national voluntary relief society affiliated with the International Red Cross movement, providing battlefield nursing, ambulance services, and civilian disaster relief. During the Third Reich the organisation was brought under Nazi Party control and its personnel and resources were increasingly integrated into military medical support, while retaining its civilian membership base of donors and volunteers. Membership badges such as this were worn to identify subscribers and supporters who funded and assisted the society's charitable and medical work.