Description
Product Description: This Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge is a choice example, with a great look. This is a two-piece design, with a Tombak eagle affixed to the badge with a single rivet. The eagle is exqusitely detailed and retains all of the original finish, which shows typical age toning. The body of the badge is made of fine zinc. The wreath retains most of the silver wash, with age toning that matches the eagle. The cloud and bolt show nearly all of the original factory applied dark finish. The reverse of this lovely Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge is flat and smooth. It is unmarked, but this variant is known to have been manufactured by the firm of Hammer & Söhne. The hardware setup features a sheet metal hinge and a round wire catch on a rectangular catch plate. The rivet is secure, and the attachment pin is functional. This all-original badge shows no repairs, no damage and almost no wear. It’s a really nice piece that remains in excellent condition.
Historical Description: With the war progressing, and the need to fill frontline combat roles becoming increasingly difficult, the Luftwaffe was relied upon more and more to fill these positions. To recognize the combat experience of these soldiers, on March 31, 1942, Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering introduced the Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge. The badge design is attributed to Sigmund von Weech. The badge features are a Luftwaffe eagle positioned above a storm cloud, with a bolt of lightning striking the ground. Luftwaffe soldiers who had previously been awarded German Army ground combat badges, such as the Infantry Assault Badge, General Assault Badge or Panzer Assault Badge, were immediately qualified and could exchange their previous badges for the new Luftwaffe badge. Criteria for the badge included: Luftwaffe soldiers having participated in three ground combat actions on three separate days, being wounded in a ground combat action, or to have earned another decoration in such an action. Luftwaffe soldiers killed in ground combat received the award posthumously. Personnel who could receive this award included paratroopers, members of the Luftwaffe Field Divisions, assault gun crews, and even Flak crews tasked with using their anti-aircraft guns against ground targets. On some of these badges, mostly early versions, the Luftwaffe eagle is a separate piece, riveted on. Later in the war, the eagle was most often integral to the badge. Most badges are produced of zinc, however, an exceedingly rare Tombak version exists in single digits today. These early badges were produced by C.E. Juncker of Berlin, and are highly sought after by all collectors.
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