Close Combat Clasp in Bronze – JFS

Product Description:  A well-presented example of a Close Combat Clasp in Bronze manufactured by Josef Feix & Söhne (JFS) of Gablonz, executed in fine zinc and retaining approximately thirty percent of its original factory-applied bronze lacquer. The remaining finish displays appealing warm tonal contrasts—bright bronze highlights set against the muted grey of exposed zinc—giving the piece an attractive and authentic character. The obverse retains strong detail, with the clasp’s distinctive relief elements still clearly defined.

The reverse is characteristically flat and smooth, bearing the raised “JFS” designer attribution denoting production by Josef Feix & Söhne. All hardware components remain original and fully functional, including the textbook attachment pin. The steel back plate is firmly secured by its original crimps and shows only minor, expected wear from age. Increasingly difficult to source in such honest and undisturbed condition, this example stands as a representative and desirable specimen, assessed overall as Excellent.

Historical Description: The Close Combat Clasp (Nahkampfspange) was instituted on November 25, 1942, to recognize the feats of German soldiers in close quarters combat. Units with soldiers who survived hand-to-hand fights with the enemy and other extremely close-range combat actions would keep track of the dates and places of each of these battles, and soldiers who managed to make it through many of these fights became eligible for this award. Because only front-line troops with direct combat experience could earn this clasp, it was a regarded by the soldiers as a very prestigious award. The Close Combat Clasp was awarded in three grades: Bronze, for 15 close combat days; Silver, for 25 close combat days, and Gold, for 50 or more days of close combat. Hitler reserved the right to personally award the Gold Close Combat Clasp, which was widely regarded as more prestigious than even the Knight’s Cross. The total amount of these clasps awarded, in all grades, was fewer than 50,000.

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