Description
Product Description: This Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge is a lovely piece with great eye appeal. It is made of zinc. The original factory applied finish is in outstanding condition- it is rare to see these wartime zinc badges with the finish so well preserved. The silvering on the wreath still shows some nice shine. The cloud and lightning bolt retain original darkening, giving this badge attractive contrast. Light wear reveals the dull gray color of the zinc in some small areas. The separately applied eagle shows a bit more wear but still has some finish in the recesses. There is some slight finish bubbling as one expects to see with these. The reverse of the badge is flat and smooth, with virtually all of the factory finish. It is maker marked behind the eagle with the initials “R.K.” in raised characters, indicating manufacture by the firm of Rudolf Karneth in Gablonz. The hardware is textbook for this maker, with a crimped in hinge and catch and functional banjo style attachment pin. The rivets holding the eagle in place are tight and un-messed with. This is a desirable, maker marked Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge – these keep getting harder to find. The condition of this one is excellent.
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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