Bronze Panzer Assault Badge – Frank & Reif, Stuttgart

Product Description: This is a nice example of an original Bronze Panzer Assault Badge. It’s struck from fine zinc, with crisp details. On the obverse, most of the original bronze lacquer finish is still present. Wear to the high points reveals the gray color of the zinc, which contrasts nicely with the dark finish. There are some small surface scratches on the front and back of the badge. The reverse of this bronze Panzer Assault Badge is flat and smooth, with nearly all of the original bronze. There is no manufacturer marking, but this badge variant is known to have been manufactured by the firm of Frank & Reif in Stuttgart. The hardware is textbook Frank & Reif, with a sheet metal hinge, round wire pin, and catch with catch plate. The hardware retains the original finish and is functional and unrepaired. This desirable badge remains in excellent condition.

Historical Description: The Panzer Assault Badge was instituted on December 20^th, 1939.    It was awarded in the silver grade to Panzer crewman who met the combat requirements. On June 1^st, 1940, following the start of the blitzkrieg against France, the bronze grade was introduced to award armoured reconnaissance, motorcycle riflemen, and panzer-grenadier units.  The requirements for both versions were the same, the soldier must have participated in three combat assaults on three separate days to be eligible.       

 The design of the Standard Panzer Assault Badge consists of an oakleaf wreath surrounding a Panzer (Tank) with the German National Eagle positioned at the top clutching a swastika.  The Standard Panzer Assault Badges can still be a common occurrence at local gun and military shows even now.  The German Army had tens of thousands of Panzer crewmen who became eligible for the award as the war progressed.  Because of the large number of soldiers who had fulfilled the requirements to wear the award, a high demand for producing of the Panzer Assault Badge was needed.  In response to this, approximately 35 manufacturers were authorized to produce the award between 1939 and 1945.  Many of these manufacturers created their own version of the badge by artistically designing their own version of the eagles, wreath’s, and tanks on the badge.  The design of one Panzer badge may not be identical to the next one encountered.  This makes the collecting of the different manufacturers and their variants its own niche in the hobby.

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