Original German WWII Bronze Grade Infantry Assault Badge Original Items

Original Items: Only One Available. Called in German a Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen in Bronze, this genuine badge is constructed of bronzed zinc. Over time, the bronze can wear and flake off, showing the oxidized base metal, which is zinc. This example however still has quite a bit of the original bronze color on both the front and back, something we very rarely see. The steel pinback also retains quite a bit of the bronzing.

The design consists of an oval oak wreath tied together at the base via a ribbon, with a national eagle clutching a mobile swas (hook cross), 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.

The back also features a vertical pinback, with pressed in steel 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 bronzing remaining, and a lovely patina.

Overall a very nice 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.

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.