German cloth cap badge : Technischen Nothilfe ('TeNo')

German Technischen Nothilfe ('TeNo') embroidered cloth cap badge. The badge is machine embroidered in blue cotton and aluminium thread on black fabric, and features a blue triangle, point downwards, in which is embroidered a silver German eagle with outstretched wings. The eagle's talons is hold a swastika, with, at its centre, a cogged wheel containing the letter 'T' overlaid with the letter 'N'. Along the right hand edge of the triangle are embroidered the words 'ges. gesch.', which equate in English to 'patent pending'.

The 'TeNo', or Technical Emergency Corps, was a civilian organisation established after the First World War, and responsible for the control and restoration of utility services such as water and power in times of national emergency or disaster. During the Second World War, they were particularly involved in restoring essential services after bombing raids, but they also worked in occupied areas, repairing battle damge.