German Close Combat Clasp in Bronze – JFS

Product Description: This German Close Combat Clasp in Bronze is a nice example that may have been actually worn on a uniform. It’s made of fine zinc. The obverse retains nice original bronze finish, with some eye-catching golden highlights. Some light wear reveals the gray color of the base metal in some areas. On the reverse, the badge is well marked, with the name of the designer (Peekhaus in Berlin) as well as a stylized “JFS” in a box, indicating manufacture by the firm of Josef Feix Söhne. The hardware setup is classic for this maker, with a banjo pin, and crimped hinge and catch. The hardware retains all of the original finish. The attachment pin is functional, and there are no repairs. The blued steel back plate is correct and has never been replaced or repaired. This is a very appealing clasp with a great look. The condition rates as excellent plus.

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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