Kriegsmarine breast eagle belonged to the member of the German destroyer Z-8 B.Heinemann

Kriegsmarine breast eagle belonged to the member of the German destroyer Z-8 Bruno Heinemann. Aluminum in gilding. Marking "M" squared on the reverse.

The eagle came from a family Heinz Streffing, with two other badges and an iron cross (check other lots for sale in same update).  One of the crew members who survived the explosion of the destroyer z-8 on a mine. Later he served on a minesweeper, survived the war Z-8 Bruno Heinemann (German Z-8 "Bruno Heinemann") - German destroyer type 1934A Since the beginning of the Second World War, participated in the Polish campaign. From October 1939 to February 1940 operated in the North Sea and the Baltic, taking part in mine-barrage operations off the east coast of Great Britain. December 12-13, 1939, together with the destroyers Erich Steinbrink, Richard Bitzen, Friedrich Inn, and Hermann Künne, took part in mine laying off the coast of Great Britain in the Newcastle region. On the night of December 13, 1939, it was damaged by a fire in the engine room. In the first half of April 1940, took part in Operation Weserebüng, being a member of the Trondheim group. Since April 1940, together with the destroyer Richard Bitzen, layd mines in the North Sea. From April to September 1941served in western France. In January 1942, together with the destroyers Paul Jacobi, Richard Bitzen, and Z-29, in the escort group of the battleship Tirpitz During the ferry from Germany to Norway on January 25, 1942, in preparation for the breakthrough of German battleships from Brest to Germany, it was blown up by two British aircraft magnetic mines 8 miles north of Dunkirk and sank at 51 ° 16 ′ N. sh. 02 ° 15 ′ E. 93 out of 325 crew members were killed. In 1943, served in the 40th Trawling detachment of the A-Flotilla 4046, Feldpost number 55482 (12.3.1943-7.9.1943) 40. Minensuch-Flottille A-Gruppe 4046