Identification Help – WWII-Era Pilot Brooch from Slovakia?

[JanR]

Hello everyone,

I'm reaching out in hopes of identifying this brooch (approx. 8 cm × 3 cm), which I believe may be connected to my grandfather's service during World War II. Photos are attached.

He was born in Smrečany, Slovakia in 1923 and initially trained at a Luftwaffe-aligned pilot school during the existence of the Slovak State. Later in the war, he crossed to the other side of the front and joined the Soviet-aligned air forces, fighting against Nazi Germany.

Unfortunately, most of his memorabilia were lost when his apartment was broken into after his death. This brooch is one of the few items that remain and might have been part of his time in training or active duty. I would be grateful for any information about:

Whether this piece resembles Luftwaffe, Slovak Air Force, or Soviet aviation items from WWII

If it was perhaps a graduation item, award, or decorative piece issued to pilots

Any indication of its country or unit of origin


Thank you so much in advance for your insights.

Jan

 

[Wurger]

Welcome to the site.

It is a German badge called the Nahkampfspange der Luftwaffe ( the Luftwaffe Close Combat Clasp) . It was set by Hermann Göring on November 3, 1944. All members of the Luftwaffe who had repeatedly proven themselves in close combat, man to man, with a weapon in their hand were given the award. The authority to award the medal rested with the regimental commander or a commander with equivalent authority. The number of awards is unknown. As memo serves the badge is confused very often with the Frontflugspange der Luftwaffe award established by Hermann Göring on January 30, 1941 that was given for pilots for their completed missions ... the Bronze - 20 flown missions, the Silver - 60 flown missions and the Gold - 110 flown missions. But the appearance of the badge was different from the Nahkampfspange der Luftwaffe.

There were three variants of the badge ...

the brown one for 15 melee days ...
the silver one for 30 melee days ...
the golden one for 50 melee days ...