Posted 7 days ago
Militarist
(297 items)
Berchtesgaden Gemeindepolizei Badge. This is municipal level police badge from the late 1940's (my guess.) The shield shaped badge I think reflects the influence of the American occupation during the post war German reorganization. The badge looks to be silver plated bronze with the Berchtesgaden coat of arms. The town was originally founded in the year 1111 as an abbey called Bertoldsgarden under Austrian control until it finally ended up as part of Bavaria in 1809. The middle shield is the Bavarian coat of arms. The crossed keys of St. Peter, represent the Catholic church (which is why the Vatican looks like the key hole in a door.) The blue shields would probably be the founding abbot's family arms.
Thank you for the interesting info about Berchtesgaden, I always thought it only referred to Hitler's Eagles Nest
You are welcome Newfld! Berchtesgsden is a beautiful place. Slightly out of town and up hill are all the old Nazi sites (Ober-Salzberg) which are mostly gone now except for the "Eagles Nest" which is now known as the Kehlsteinhaus.