Description
Product Description: This Close Combat Clasp in Bronze Postcard is an eye-catching and not commonly seen piece of wartime propaganda. The front of this postcard features a nicely detailed color illustration of this iconic award, its designation, and information about when it was instituted and who was qualified to wear it. A notation at the bottom indicates that this postcard is number 13 in the series “Kampfabzeichen des Heeres” (Combat Badges of the Army). The reverse of this nice postcard shows that it was never used. Some typical patriotic jargon printed at the bottom advises boys on where to apply to become an Army Officer. This postcard was published by the Steiniger Bilddrucke Verlaggesellschaft in connection with the high command of the German Army. This Close Combat Clasp in Bronze Postcard is undamaged, with only very slight corner and edge wear, and typical light foxing from age. It displays nicely and is in excellent condition.
Historical Description: The Close Combat Clasp (Nahkampfspange) was instituted on November 25, 1942, to recognize the feats of German Infantry in close quarters combat beyond what the Infantry Assault Badge could. Units with soldiers who survived hand-to-hand combat with the enemy and other extremely close-range combat actions were required to track the dates and places of each of these battles. Those front-line soldiers fortunate enough to survive this brutal combat became eligible for the award. Because only front-line troops with direct combat experience could earn this clasp, it was a regarded by the soldiers themselves as a highly prestigious award. The Close Combat Clasp was awarded in three grades: Bronze, for 15 close combat days; Silver, for 25 close combat days, and Gold, for 50 or more days of close combat. Hitler reserved the right to personally award the Gold Close Combat Clasp, however Heinrich Himmler also awarded the gold grade late in the war as well, in Hitler’s name of course. The Gold grade Close Combat Clasp was at the time widely regarded as one of the most impressive and prestigious awards a German soldier could earn due to the criteria and lack of survivors. These men were true front-line combat troops and were held in higher regard than Knights Cross winners by their peers. The total amount of these clasps awarded, in all grades, was fewer than 50,000. The gold grade was awarded only approximately 630 times, making it 10 times rarer than the Knights Cross, the silver grade approximately 9500 times, and the bronze grade approximately 36,500 times. Those who had not been awarded the German Cross in Gold previously were typically automatically awarded it when awarded the Close Combat Clasp in Gold.
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