Hymmen Infantry Assault Badge in Silver

Product Description: Thisn is an excellent example of a desirable Hymmen Infantry Assault Badge in Silver. It is unmarked, but this design is attributed to Hymmen & Co., Lüdenscheid, a rare manufacturer to encounter. This Hymmen Infantry Assault Badge is made of zinc, and still retains about 80 percent of the original bright silver wash. The finish shows wear to the high points, exposing the gray color of the base metal. The reverse has nearly all of the original finish, and features the distinctive and unusual crimped-in hardware that is unique to this design. The round steel wire pin shows some age, but all of the hardware is completely functional and intact, with no repairs. A very attractive example of a hard-to-find Hymmen Infantry Assault Badge.

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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