Original German WWII Bronze Grade Panzer Assault Tank Badge by E. Ferdinand Wiedmann – “Scoop Back” Version Original Items

Original Items: Only One Available. The Panzer Badge (German: Panzerkampfabzeichen) was a World War II German military decoration awarded to troops in armored divisions. The Panzer Badge was introduced on 20 December 1939, in order to recognize the achievements of Panzer personnel who took part in armored assaults. It was designed by the Berlin firm of Wilhelm Ernst Peekhaus, and was instituted by order of Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch. On 6 June 1940, a separate class of the badge, in Bronze, was added in order to recognize the crews of armored vehicles other than tanks. The award document that came with it was the common type that had the particulars of the recipient (rank, name) and the authorizing signature of an officer. The Panzer Badge was worn on the left tunic pocket. The bronze version of the Panzer Badge was authorized for armored personnel and Panzer grenadier units equipped with armored vehicles. It was also to be presented to members of armored reconnaissance groups and rifle battalions of Panzer divisions. The authorization of these badges was usually done at a regimental or divisional level.

This very nice example in Bronze grade is constructed of oval shaped zinc with a bronze wash. Like many zinc examples we see, the badge has unfortunately lost most of the original wash, with some visible in the recesses on the front of the badge. The rear shows a little, mostly on and around the pin back. The design of the badge is iconic, the front has a border of oak leaves tied at the base, a Heer-style national eagle clutching a mobile swas (hook cross) perches at the top of the wreath, a Panzerkampfwagen IV superimposed in the center on grassy ground, with its left tank track extending over the edge of the badge. Measuring 1.64 inches (41.65 mm) W x 2.36 (60.06 mm) H. Offered in overall very good condition, with all the details still present, and a functional pinback.

The reverse is a “scoop back” style, and the left side is maker marked W with 5 lines directly above in a circle. Sometimes referred to as “ÜÜ”, this is the trademark logo of E. Ferdinand Wiedmann of Frankfurt. The five dots are actually a very small E F E R D marking, an abbreviation the firm often used. We have seen this logo also attributed to Hermann Wernstein of Jena-Löbstedt at times.

A lovely bronze grade example PAB, which we do not see often at all, ready to add to your collection!

The term panzer division (German: Panzerdivision) as commonly used in English language refers almost exclusively to the armored (tank) division in the army branch of the Wehrmacht and of NSDAP Germany during World War II. The panzer divisions were the key element of German success in the Blitzkrieg operations of the early years of the war. Later the Waffen-SS formed panzer divisions, and even the Luftwaffe fielded a panzer division, the Herman Goring Division.

The term Panzerdivision is still used in today’s Heer of the Bundeswehr (for example 1. Panzerdivision). In German speaking countries the term is not immediately associated with the Wehrmacht as it is in English speaking nations, as the word simply means ‘armored division’ and has no additional connotation.

A panzer division was a combined arms formation, having both tanks (German Panzerkampfwagen, “armored fighting vehicle”, usually shortened to “Panzer”) and infantry as organic components, along with artillery, anti-aircraft, signals, etc. However, the proportions of the components of a panzer division changed over time.