IAB Infantry Assault Badge Silver – S.H.u.C.o

Product Description: A finely detailed Infantry Assault Badge in Silver (Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen), of zinc construction, attributed to the firm Sohni, Heubach & Co. (SHuCo) of Idar-Oberstein, though unmarked—a typical characteristic of this variant. The design exhibits the distinctive SHuCo features, including sharp detailing to the oak leaf wreath and bold relief on the central K98 rifle motif.

As is common with late-war zinc awards, much of the original silver finish has worn from the obverse, though traces remain visible to the reverse surface. Despite the loss of finish, the badge remains in excellent structural condition, with a well-preserved hinge, pin, and catch assembly—all original and fully functional.

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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