Infantry Assault Badge in Silver – Zimmermann

Product Description: This Infantry Assault Badge in Silver is a classic, one-look-original example of this wartime combat award. It’s struck from a fine zinc alloy. As is common with these zinc pieces, the silver finish has faded away with time, and this badge has reverted to the dull gray color of the base metal. The obverse shows light wear and age, with an uncleaned patina. Loads of fine detail remain. The reverse of this Infantry Assault Badge in Silver is flat and smooth. It’s maker marked behind the swastika with a stylized “FZZS” in a circle, indicating manufacture by the firm of Fritz Zimmermann in Stuttgart. The hardware setup features a block hinge, functional round wire attachment pin, and a “C” catch with catch plate. Intact finish on the hardware and solder leaves no doubt as to the grade of this badge, and also shows that this badge has never been repaired. This badge is a nice representative piece. The condition rates as excellent.

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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