Tollenaere Commemorative Badge - Bronze and Silver.
Known Makers - Unmarked
Rarity – Rare, Extremely Rare.
Tollenaere Commemorative Badge bronze.
Tollenaere Commemorative Badge bronze - reverse.
Tollenaere Commemorative Badge- Silver.
Tollenaere Commemorative Badge Silver - Reverse.
This badge is in bronze and silver and measures 53mm high and 36mm wide and comprises of a circle onto which in raised capital letters is the inscription, AAN R. TOLLENAERE broken by a five pointed leave KOPZY JAN. 1942. A broad double-edged sword bisects the upper part of the circle and the pommel is in the form of the badge of the VNV. The Wolf Hook, the emblem of the “Black Brigade” lies across the circle and sword. It has three leaves at the top left and two in the circles void. On the transverse of the Wolf Hook on an oblong box are the raised letters TROUW, which translates to Loyalty.
The reverse shows the impression of the obverse and has two eyelets one at the top and the other at the bottom of the badge through which is placed a split bar to hold it to the uniform. The badge was worn on the left breast pocket and was authorised to be worn on German uniforms.
The badge is correctly known as the “Tollenaere Kenteeken” but more commonly referred to as either the “Trouw” or the “Kopzy” badge. Reimond Tollenaere fell at Kopzy, near Leningrad on 22 January 1942. He was the popular commander of the VNV’s uniformed militia, the “Black Brigade” and been one of the first to volunteer for service with the Flemish Legion. The leadership of the VNV instituted the award to commemorate his “hero’s death” and to reward loyalty and sacrifice of its members.
