WW2 German Army Mountain Troops Edelweiss Badge Cap Insignia

Description

Back in the World War I era, German troops travel high up in the Alps, far above the tree line, just to pick a very small flower — one that would show others that they were true warriors.
The edelweiss, otherwise known as
Leontopodium alpinum,
is a flower native to the Alps and is a national icon in Switzerland. The name, in German, is a combining of the words for 'noble' and 'white.' It's beautiful, unique, and it grows more than 10,000 feet above sea level, so finding one means you've made quite the hike.
Daring German troops would haul their gear straight up the mountain, reach the top of the tree line, and search for the precious little, white flower. If you saw someone who managed to bring one back down, you know they'd climbed mountains for it.
The mountain infantry of Germany
Gebirgsjäger
were identified by the edelweiss insignia worn on their sleeves and their caps.