Description
Product Description: This Bronze Infantry Assault Badge is an extraordinarily well-preserved example with wonderful eye appeal. It is struck from fine zinc. The surface retains all of the original, beautiful, factory applied bronze finish, with lovely golden tones at the highlights. There is no evident wear, and all of the original detail remains intact, with a nearly factory fresh look overall. The back of the badge is smooth and is marked with the stylized “JFS” maker emblem of the firm of Josef Feix Söhne. The hardware setup is textbook for this maker, with crimped hinge and catch. The attachment pin is straight and perfect and is still functional. There is no damage and there are no repairs. This outstanding Bronze Infantry Assault Badge is complete with its original paper packet. The packet is crisp, with no damage, and is correct in every regard. The reverse of the packet is marked for Feix as one expects to see. This badge is a choice gem, absolutely impossible to upgrade. The condition rates as near mint.
Historical Description: The Infantry Assault Badge (Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen) was instituted on December 20, 1939, by German Army commander Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch. The design of the badge featured the standard issue K98 rifle, surrounded by oak leaves with a German Heer Eagle clutching a swastika perched at the top of the badge. The firm responsible for the creation of this badge is C.E. Juncker of Berlin. The badge could be awarded to members of the Heer and SS-VT (later the Waffen-SS) who participate in ground combat as infantry. Awarding criteria consisted of: soldiers had to participate in three or more assaults, counterattacks, or reconnaissance missions, or to have participated in hand-to-hand combat in an assault, or to have participated in three days of reestablishing combat positions. These actions had to take place on separate days to meet the award criteria. For example, three assaults on enemy positions on one single counted as “one assault”. On June 1, 1940, a bronze grade of this award was instituted, for motorized infantry. The criteria for the award were the same, only for motorized units. The earliest versions of the Infantry Assault Badge were made of Tombak, Nickel Silver (Neusilber) or other high-quality alloys, usually, but not all, with a silver-plated finish or high-quality bronzing. Awards produced later as the war progressed were generally made of a zinc alloy, with a bronze or silver wash that often faded with wear and time. Early produced examples are the most desired on the market not only due to their scarcity compared to later examples, but due to their usual elegant appearance like that of finely made jewelry.
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