This badge belongs to the Winterhilfswerk (WHW) or Winter Relief Organization collection of National Socialist Germany and bears the inscription “Fliege deutscher Adler, siege im neuen Kampfjahr 1936” (Fly German Eagle, be victorious in the new year of struggle 1936). It is a round tin badge with a diameter of 30 mm, equipped with a pin for attachment to clothing.

The Winter Relief Organization was founded in September 1933 under the leadership of Erich Hilgenfeldt and was one of the largest Nazi propaganda organizations. Officially, the WHW was intended to help needy Germans during the winter months by distributing food, coal, clothing, and other relief supplies. In reality, however, it primarily served as an instrument of political indoctrination and social control.

The WHW's annual collection campaigns typically ran from October to March and were characterized by massive public campaigns. Citizens were urged – and often forced under considerable social pressure – to make monetary donations. In return for their donations, they received small badges, plaques, or other memorabilia to wear on their clothing to publicly demonstrate their participation.

The year 1936 was of particular significance for the Nazi regime. In March 1936, the remilitarization of the Rhineland occurred, a flagrant breach of the Treaty of Versailles. In August 1936, the Olympic Games were held in Berlin, which the regime used as a propaganda platform. The term “Kampfjahr” (year of struggle) in the badge's text reflects the militaristic rhetoric that permeated all areas of National Socialist life, even seemingly civilian charitable activities.

The symbolism of the German eagle was central to Nazi iconography. The eagle, a traditional German symbol since Roman and medieval times, was appropriated by the Nazi regime and combined with the swastika. The call for the eagle to “fly” and “be victorious” was a typical martial metaphor intended to prepare the German people for coming conflicts.

WHW badges were produced in enormous quantities and made from a wide variety of materials: metal, porcelain, wood, glass, cardboard, and even amber. Each collection year had specific themes and series. There were badges with regional motifs, fairy tale characters, animal representations, professional groups, and of course political-military symbols. The production of these millions of badges represented a significant economic factor and employed numerous manufacturers throughout the Reich.

The manufacture from tin plate was common for WHW badges and cost-effective, enabling mass production. The stated condition grade 2 according to the preservation scale for orders and decorations means that the badge is in very good condition with only slight signs of wear.

Participation in the WHW collections was theoretically voluntary but practically unavoidable. Employers often kept lists of their employees' donations, and those who did not donate had to expect professional and social consequences. The public wearing of the badges was a visible sign of conformity with the regime.

From a historical perspective, WHW badges are today important documents of Nazi propaganda and everyday history. They demonstrate how the regime attempted to politicize and control all aspects of daily life. The sheer quantity and variety of these objects illustrates the totalitarian claim of National Socialism, which transformed even charity into an instrument of political mobilization.