Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze – Wiedmann

Product Description: This Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze is an interesting and all-original example, with lots of character. On the front, most of the original bronze finish has faded, though clear remnants remain. The worn high points and edges show the gray color of the zinc base metal, which has taken on some fairly heavy patina from age. Plenty of original detail still remains. The reverse of the badge is flat and smooth, with lots of bronze finish as well as age patination. The lower left part of the reverse is marked with the stylized “ÜÜ” maker mark used by the firm of E. Ferdinand Wiedmann, in Frankfurt am Main. The so-called “lilly pad”-style soldered hinge and catch plate are textbook for this maker. The round wire pin and sheet metal catch are intact and functional, with no signs of any repairs. This Infantry Assault Badge in Bronze remains in a strong very good 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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