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Condition: Excellent
Maker: JFS
Pattern: 25
Base Material: Zinc
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Product Description: This 25 Engagement General Assault Badge is a beautiful example. These numbered General Assault Badges are tough to find. This one is made of zinc, with typical fading to the silver wash finish, though traces remain. The dark color of the massive central eagle emblem contrasts nicely with the traces of silver remaining on the wreath. The front of this badge shows only light wear, with all of the original detail intact. The box with numeral “25” retains the black paint in the recesses. The reverse of this 25 Engagement General Assault Badge is marked behind the wreath with the stylized “JFS” maker mark of the firm of Josef Feix & Söhne in Gablonz. The hardware setup is textbook for this maker, and shows no repairs, with the block hinge and catch plate still held in place with the original crimps. The correct aluminum rivets are tight, and the wide attachment pin is functional. Overall, this extremely desirable badge remains in excellent condition.
Historical Description: The German General Assault Badge was instituted on June 1, 1940. When the first Heer (Army) combat badges were instituted, they only recognized those in the Infantry and Panzer (Tank) units. This left the supporting elements of the German Army without an award to recognize their combat achievements. Initially the General Assault Badge was intended for Combat Engineer units, but later this was expanded to include other units such as Panzerjäger’s (Tank Hunters), Cavalry Units, down to Medical Personnel who assisted the Infantry or Panzers during combat engagements. Eligibility also continued to grow to include members of the Luftwaffe (Air Force), Kreigsmarine (Navy), Waffen-SS, and Combat Police units.
The requirements for the General Assault Badge were the same as that of the Infantry Assault Badge and the Panzer Assault Badge. The soldier must have taken part in three combat assaults on three separate days. Three assaults in one day would only count as one assault. Before the institution of the Tank Destruction Strip, awarded to soldiers who destroyed a tank by means of explosives or mine, the single-handed destruction of an enemy tank would also earn the soldier the General Assault Badge.
The Standard General Assault Badge consists of an Oakleaves wreath surrounding a large National Eagle grasping the swastika with crossed bayonet and stick grenade underneath. The General Assault Badge can be found in several different base metals such as Brass, Copper Coated Aluminum, Copper Coated Zinc, and Zinc. The use of the different types of base metal was directly impacted by the war as it progressed. Shortages forced manufacturers to switch from quality base metals like brass to lower quality base metals like zinc.
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