WWII NAZI GERMAN PANZER & INFANTRY ASSAULT BADGE

WWII Nazi German Assault Badge lot to include 1) GENERAL ASSAULT BADGE. Die struck, semi hollow backed, alloy construction award with a silver finish. The nicely detailed badge features a cut-out, high relief Wehrmacht styled eagle with down-swept wings positioned above a crossed bayonet and stick grenade, and encompassed by an embossed, vertically oval, oak-leaf wreath. Complete pin and catch assembly. Unmarked. Excellent. The General Assault badge was introduced on June 1ST 1940, by Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch, for award to support personnel who were ineligible for the Infantry or Panzer Assault badges. Criteria for award of the badge was basically the same as the criteria for award of the Infantry and Panzer Assault badges with the main qualification being participation in three separate assaults in a supporting role. On its introduction the badge was only intended for award to combat engineers and was designated, Pionier-Sturmabzeichen, (Engineer’s Assault Badge). Shortly afterwards award of the badge was extended to other support personnel including artillery and assault gun personnel, anti-tank and anti-aircraft personnel and medical personnel. Of Note: Before the introduction of the Tank Destruction Strip in March 1942, personnel who had single handedly destroyed an enemy tank with Infantry weapons were awarded the General Assault Badge. 2) PANZER ASSAULT BADGE, SILVER. Die struck alloy construction, solid backed, badge features a vertically oval oak-leaf wreath with a Wehrmacht style eagle with down-swept wings, superimpose to the top center, encompassing the cut-out, forward profile of a tank. The plain, solid, reverse has a crimped, soldered hinge, a thin round vertical pin and a soldered catch. The Panzer Assault Badge in silver was instituted by Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch on December 20TH 1939 for award to all ranks of tank personnel who served as a tank commander, driver, gunner or radio operator and had been involved in three different armored assaults on three different days. The institution order indicated the criteria for award of the badge was to be effective as of January 1ST 1940. Of Note: On June 1ST 1940 a Bronze version of the Panzer Assault Badge was introduced for award to Panzer-Grenadier, medical, and armored car personnel who participated in three different armored assaults on three different days.