Description
Product Description: A very nice Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge produced by Hammer & Söhne. This Hammer & Söhne Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge is produced with a zinc wreath, and a tombak style eagle. The wreath retains minimal of its original silver finish, with patina. The separately affixed tombak eagle is originally riveted to the wreath, and remains in great condition with most of the silvering remaining. The reverse catch has unfortunately broken off, but is complete with the hinge and pin intact. A nice displayable example of a Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge produced by Hammer & Söhne, for near half the price for a complete example.
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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