Drivers (All) – findings
Badge for proven drivers (Kraftfahrbewährungsabzeichen)
During the first autumn and winter of the Russian field campaign, German drivers were confronted with considerable difficulties on the local notoriously unpaved roads. In order to show appreciation to military drivers for their performance in the most difficult conditions, the Badge for Proven Drivers was established by Adolf Hitler's decree of 23 October 1942. It was an award for wartime deployment for particularly capable drivers, in three classes - gold, silver and bronze.
The badge was awarded to those drivers who had achieved exceptional merit in the difficult conditions of frontline driving the car entrusted to them and also on the basis of good care of it, either directly by Wehrmacht members or by other Wehrmacht drivers subordinate to them.
The prerequisites for the award were:
- 90 days' service as a motor-coupling
- 120 days deployment as a military vehicle driver
- 150-day deployment as a driver of a military vehicle in a vehicle (column) sequence
- 165-day deployment as driver of a supply vehicle
- 185 days as a driver of a car in other Wehrmacht services
One tour of duty disrupted by combat action was accepted as a full day's deployment.tele, driving on difficult roads or in severe weather conditions.
The badge was awarded in bronze for fulfilling the above conditions, in silver for double fulfillment and in gold for triple fulfillment.
In the event of a self-inflicted traffic accident, the accumulated deployment days were declared void and could be reinstated again after 6 months of faultless service. The badge for proven drivers could be withdrawn for the following reasons:
- Penalty for exceeding the speed limit.
- negligent care of the vehicle or careless driving leading to wear and tear or material damage
- an accident caused by the driver's own negligence
Once the prerequisites had been met again, the badge could be re-awarded, but initially only in bronze with no regard to the grade previously achieved.
The award of the badge to members of an allied or friendly army was not permissible. The badge was also not awarded posthumously.
From the foregoing it is very clear how high a value was placed on any serviceable vehicle that could contribute to the conduct of the war.
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