Deumer Infantry Assault Badge in Silver

Product Description: This Deumer Infantry Assault Badge in Silver is a desirable, top quality example. It’s made of stamped Tombak, a brass alloy that was only used early in production. The obverse of this handsome early badge shows some wear that exposes the golden color of the base metal. The recesses in the design retain lots of beautiful silver electroplating, which shows only minimal age toning. The reverse of this stamped badge retains nearly all of the finish with just a very slight patina from age. There is no maker mark, but this variant is known to have been manufactured by the firm of Wilhelm Deumer in Lüdenscheid. The attachment hardware is intact and is tetbook for this maker, with a block hinge and sheet metal catch. The round wire pin tapers to a point and functions as it should. There is no damage and no repairs. This Deumer Infantry Assault Badge has great character and eye appeal. It’s a sought-after version of this iconic award, that remains in excellent plus condition.   

Historical Description: The Infantry Assault Badge (Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen) was instituted on December 20, 1939, by German Army commander Generalfeldmarschall Walther von Brauchitsch. The design of the badge featured the iconic K98 rifle, the standard German Infantry weapon of WWII, surrounded by oak leaves and surmounted by a German Army eagle and swastika emblem. The creation of this design has been attributed to the C.E. Juncker firm in Berlin. The badge could be awarded to members of the Heer and SS-VT (later the Waffen-SS) who participate in ground combat as infantry. To earn this award, soldiers had to participate in three or more assaults, counterattacks, or reconnaissance missions, or to have participated in hand to hand combat in an assault, or to have participated in three days of reestablishing combat positions. These actions had to take place on separate days to meet the award criteria. On June 1, 1940, a Bronze grade of this award was instituted, for motorized infantry. The criteria for the award were the same, only for motorized units. The earliest versions of the Infantry Assault Badge were made of Tombak or other high-quality alloys, with a plated finish. Later production awards were generally zinc alloy, with a bronze or silver wash that often faded with wear and time.

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