Infantry Assault Badge in Silver – Aurich

Product Description: This Infantry Assault Badge in Silver is a desirable, maker marked, all-original example. It is probably a later war production piece, and is struck from fine zinc alloy. Much of the original silver wash has faded, as is typical with these zinc badges, but some attractive silver luster remains. There is no evident wear, and all of the original detail is intact. The reverse of this Infantry Assault Badge in Silver is flat, with good original finish. It’s maker marked behind the swastika with the stylized “HA” maker mark of the firm of Hermann Aurich in Dresden, a less commonly seen maker of these badges. The hardware is textbook Aurich style. The round wire attachment pin is functional, and the hinge plate and catch are held in place with the original crimps. This badge is complete and sound, with no damage and no repairs. It’s a nice badge, in excellent condition.

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 iconic K98 rifle, the standard German Infantry weapon of WWII, surrounded by oak leaves and surmounted by a German Army eagle and swastika emblem. The creation of this design has been attributed to the C.E. Juncker firm in 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. To earn this award, 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. 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 or other high-quality alloys, with a plated finish. Later production awards were generally zinc alloy, with a bronze or silver wash that often faded with wear and time.

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