$3,885.00
Condition: Excellent++
Maker: RK
Pattern: 25
Base Material: Zinc
In stock
Product Description: A textbook example of the exceptionally rare and highly coveted 25 Engagement General Assault Badge by Rudolf Karneth (RK), awarded to German combat personnel for participation in twenty-five frontline actions not qualifying for the Infantry or Panzer Assault Badges.
Struck in fine zinc, as expected for this advanced grade, the badge retains nearly all of its original factory-applied finish. The silvering to the oak leaf wreath is near flawless, while the blackened central eagle remains deep, crisp, and perfectly intact. The numeral “25” inset retains its original black paint in the recessed areas, creating excellent depth and contrast. The reverse displays the distinctive stylized “RK” within a circle, confirming manufacture by Rudolf Karneth, with the silver finish showing light patina and minor, honest finish loss consistent with age.
Hardware is textbook for this maker, featuring the correct crimped-in hinge and catch, a magnetic banjo-style pin that remains fully functional, and tight, undisturbed rivets with absolutely no evidence of repair or tampering. Presented in Excellent++ condition and completely untouched, this is a premium, investment-grade example of one of the most elusive and desirable General Assault Badge variants.
Historical Description: The Numbered General Assault Badge was instituted on June 22, 1943. The instituting of the new grades of the General Assault Badge was in a direct response to the increasing number of soldiers which had continued to tally “combat days” after they had met the initial requirements of the standard version. The different grades created by the German High Command were “25”, “50”, “75”, & “100”. The requirements for the Numbered General Assault Badge were very similar to the standard version except the number of combat days required corresponded to the number of the award. For example, the General Assault Badge with a “25” box would have required the soldier to have 25 combat assaults on 25 different days. Many soldiers in the German Army did not live to see the required “combat days” for the higher grades, most specifically the “75” & “100” grades.
The numbered grades used the same design pattern as the standard version. However, these grades of the General Assault Badge have more enhanced features such as enlarged eagle, enhanced wreath, plus the addition of a number box at the bottom of the wreath to denote grade.
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