During the late 1930s, the foundation of the Volkswagen factory marked the beginning of one of the most iconic automobile brands in history. This 1938 Volkswagen Factory Foundation Badge was produced to commemorate the laying of the foundation stone for the plant in May 1938. The factory was established as part of an NSDAP initiative to produce an affordable car the German people, leading to the creation of the legendary Volkswagen Beetle.
Key Features
Measures 40mm x 30mm.
Features a raised depiction of an early Volkswagen Beetle prototype below the NSDAP party badge in a cogwheel.
Die struck into a single piece, finished in bronze.
Inscribed with ‘Grundsteinlegung Des Volkswagenwerkes Mai 1938’ (Laying of the Foundation Stone of the Volkswagen Factory, May 1938).
Reverse features the maker’s logo, alongside a brooch fixing.
Description
The establishment of the Volkswagen factory in 1938 was a defining moment in automative history, laying the groundwork for the development of the Volkswagen Beetle. This commemorative badge was issued to mark the laying of the factory’s foundation stone and was distributed to key figures, workers and attendees present at the event.
The badge, featuring a prototype Volkswagen Beetle beneath a cog containing the badge of the NSDAP, measures just 40mm x 30mm. Crafted in bronze and die-struck into a single piece, the badge reproduces the maker’s mark on the reverse, along with a brooch fixing for display or wear. The inscription on the front reads ‘Grundsteinlegung Des Volkswagenwerkes Mai 1938’ (Laying of the Foundation Stone of the Volkswagen Factory, May 1938), commemorating the historic event that would ultimately lead to the creation of the iconic Volkswagen Beetle.
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