Original German WWII Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge by Rudolf Karneth & Söhne – Erdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe Original Items

Original Items: Only One Available. This is a very nice condition German WWII Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge badge in zinc, with an applied riveted eagle (in silvered tombak). The silver wash on the eagle almost fully present on the eagle, something we rarely see. The rest of the badge also still has lots of original finish, now a bit tarnished due to age, and the details are still very well retained. Comes complete with original functional flat pin back attachment. The back of the badge is marked with the initials R. K. for manufacturer Rudolf Karneth of Gablonz, a well known maker of badges.

Ready to display!

The Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe (German: Erdkampfabzeichen der Luftwaffe) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to Luftwaffe personnel for achievement in ground combat. It was instituted on 31 March 1942 by the commander-in-chief (Oberbefehlshaber der Luftwaffe) Hermann Göring.

The badge, designed by the graphic and textile artist Sigmund von Weech (1888-1982), features an oak leaf wreath with at its apex a Luftwaffe eagle, grasping a swas, flying above a storm cloud, from which a lightning bolt strikes rough ground. The general criteria for its presentation was the participation in three separate combat operations on separate days. Luftwaffe soldiers who had already been awarded medals or orders of the Heer such as Assault Badge or the Infantry Assault Badge, were required to exchange their badges for the Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe.

As the war progressed it became necessary to further distinguish those soldiers who had already exceeded the awarding criteria. To accomplish this distinction four numbered grades were introduced on 10 November 1944 based on the number of combat operations.

1st grade (I. Stufe) for between 3-24 eligible operations
2nd grade (II. Stufe) for 25 eligible operations
3rd grade (III. Stufe) for 50 eligible operations
4th grade (IV. Stufe) for 75 eligible operations
5th grade (V. Stufe) for 100 eligible operations