[1] It was awarded to members in the Reichswehr, the Wehrmacht, SS and the auxiliary service organizations during World War II.

After March 1943, due to the increasing number of Allied bombings, it was also awarded to civilians wounded in air raids.

[2] In 1957, the West German government authorized a denazified[3] (Swastika removed) version of the basic (black, silver, & gold) badges for wear on the Bundeswehr uniform, among other certain Nazi-era wartime awards.

In 1957, a revised version of the Wound Badge was authorised for wear; however, the previous type could still be worn if the swastika were removed (for example by grinding).

The 20 July 1944 Wound Badge was only issued to those injured during the failed attempt on Adolf Hitler's life at the Wolf's Lair headquarters in Rastenburg, East Prussia.

Twenty-four men were present when the bomb detonated; one officer was killed and three succumbed to their wounds a short time later.

Thereafter, Hitler ordered a special wound badge be awarded commemorating the event, as he believed "fate had intervened" for him.