Walloon Volunteers Badge, 2nd Class

Walloon Volunteers Badge, 2nd Class – Abzeichen der wallonischen Freiwilligen

The Walloon Volunteers Badge, 2nd Class is connected with the history of the Légion Wallonie, a formation raised in 1941 from French-speaking Belgian volunteers from Wallonia. Created during the German occupation of Belgium, the unit was later deployed on the Eastern Front and underwent several organizational changes, eventually being associated with the formation of the 28th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division “Wallonien” in 1944.  

The badge is commonly known in German as Abzeichen der wallonischen Freiwilligen and bears the French motto “Bravoure – Honneur – Fidélité”, meaning “Bravery – Honour – Fidelity”. The use of French reflects the Walloon origin of the volunteers, while the German name belongs to the administrative and collector terminology used for the object. Modern reproductions and reenactment examples usually preserve this distinctive motto and are often listed in French or German catalogues as a Walloon Volunteers badge.  

Historically, the badge refers to one of the most recognizable Belgian volunteer formations linked to military collaboration during the Second World War. The Légion Wallonie was closely associated with the Rexist movement of Léon Degrelle, who later became one of the best-known figures connected with the unit. Its wartime path led from a volunteer legion to larger German-controlled formations, including brigade and divisional structures, especially during the final phase of the war.  

As a 2nd Class badge, the piece belongs to a graded form of recognition or identification associated with the Walloon volunteer formations. Its historical interest lies in the combination of a French-language motto, a Walloon regional identity and a German military designation. This mixture gives the object a very specific profile among Second World War foreign volunteer insignia.

A notable detail concerns the name “Wallonien” itself. In German wartime usage it became more than a geographic reference: in 1944 it was used as the official name of the planned 28th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division “Wallonien”, even though the number of available Walloon volunteers remained below the theoretical strength of a full division.