Original German WWII Bronze Grade Infantry Assault Badge Attributed To Rudolf Karneth Featured in Sascha Weber Book Original Items

Original Items: Only One Available. Called in German the Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze, this genuine badge is constructed of bronzed die-struck zinc. Over time, the bronze wash can wear and flake off, showing the oxidized base metal, which is grayish. That has happened to a small extent on this example, however for the most part it is still very well retained, definitely better than most we see. There is mostly some flaking of the bronze wash around the edges and raised areas on the front and back. We very rarely get verified examples of the Bronze grade in, as often the wash is completely gone.

This exact badge was one of the many featured in the book The Infantry Assault Badges by Sascha Weber, published in 2008. We received it along with several other IAB’s also featured in the book, which is the definitive work tracing the various makers and designs of the infantry assault badge.

The design of the badge consists of an oval oak wreath tied together at the base via a ribbon, with a national eagle clutching a mobile swas, with a vertically oriented Karabiner 98k with the bayonet attached to the front of the barrel and the carrying sling hanging from the rifle superimposed on the wreath. There is no maker mark on this badge, but that is not uncommon for later war produced examples, and in fact the majority of badges produced were unmarked.

Sometimes specific aspects of the design can indicate a manufacturer, and in this case the badge is identical in construction to known marked examples by Rudolf Karneth of Gablonz, which today is Jablonec nad Nisou in the Czech Republic. During WWII it was considered part of the “Sudetenland”, and after the war most of the German population was expelled.

The back also features a vertical steel pinback, with pressed in hinge and catch. It measures approximately 48 mm (w) x 63 mm (h) with a weight of 35 grams. This example is overall in very good condition, with lots of bronze wash remaining, and a lovely patina.

Overall a great example of this type of badge, ready to display!

The Infantry Assault Badge (German: Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen) was a German war badge awarded to Waffen-SS and Wehrmacht Heer soldiers during the Second World War. This decoration was instituted on 20 December 1939 by the Commander-in-Chief of the German Army, Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch. It could be awarded to members of non-motorized Infantry units and units of the Gebirgsjäger that had participated in infantry assaults, with light infantry weapons, on at least three separate days of battle in the front line on or after 1 January 1940. When a counter offensive led to fighting, it could also apply.

Award of the Infantry Assault Badge was authorized at regimental command level, and mechanized or motorized infantry were not eligible for the original badge. A bronze variant of the Infantry Assault Badge was created in June 1940, authorized for motorized and mechanized infantry units, using similar requirements for award as the original silver variant.