Condition: Very Good
Maker: Rudolf Karneth
Pattern: 25 Engagement
Base Material: Zinc
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Product Description: This 25 Engagement General Assault Badge is an attractive, all-original example of this rare award. It is a textbook piece that is made of two separate pieces of fine zinc. The badge’s wreath has lost most of its original silver wash over time, which is normal and typical for these zinc based badges. The eagle retains some of its original dark finish, with remnants of the protective lacquer in the recesses, and contrasts nicely with the wreath. The “25” number box is the correct style for this manufacturer, and is factory soldered to the badge. The obverse as a whole shows a heavy, uncleaned age patina. The reverse of this 25 Engagement General Assault Badge is marked at the 3 o’clock position with a stylized “RK” in a circle, indicating manufacture by the firm of Rudolf Karneth. The hardware is correct for this maker, with a correctly crimped hinge and catch, and banjo pin. The 4 zinc rivets hold the eagle firmly to the wreath and are typical for Karneth production. The rivets are textbook for the maker. The catch has the expected “anti-rotation” device in the crimp’s recess. The attachment pin is magnetic, and functions as it should. This is an untouched badge with no damages or repairs. It has a very appealing and impressive overall look. The condition rates as very good.
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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