Condition: Near Mint
Maker: Karl Wurster
Base Material: Zinc
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Product Description: This Karl Wurster Panzer Assault Badge in Bronze is an incredible example, in near mint condition. It is made of a zinc alloy. This badge retains full original detail, with no evident wear. The finish on the obverse covers the entire surface, with some slight fading as well as spots of darker patina throughout. The reverse of this badge is flat and smooth, with full original finish. Near the hinge, this badge is marked with the stylized “KW” in a circle maker mark used by the firm of Karl Wurster, in Markneukirchen. The hardware setup is textbook for this maker, with a block hinge, and a round wire pin and catch. The hardware retains the original finish, as do the solder joints on the hinge and catch, leaving no doubt that this is an untouched, all original badge. This Karl Wurster Panzer Assault Badge in Bronze is a choice badge, that would be difficult to upgrade.
Historical Description: The Panzer Assault Badge was instituted on December 20th, 1939. It was awarded in the silver grade to Panzer crewman who met the combat requirements. On June 1st, 1940, following the start of the blitzkrieg against France, the bronze grade was introduced to award armoured reconnaissance, motorcycle riflemen, and panzer-grenadier units. The requirements for both versions were the same, the soldier must have participated in three combat assaults on three separate days to be eligible.
The design of the Standard Panzer Assault Badge consists of an oakleaf wreath surrounding a Panzer (Tank) with the German National Eagle positioned at the top clutching a swastika. The Standard Panzer Assault Badges can still be a common occurrence at local gun and military shows even now. The German Army had tens of thousands of Panzer crewmen who became eligible for the award as the war progressed. Because of the large number of soldiers who had fulfilled the requirements to wear the award, a high demand for producing of the Panzer Assault Badge was needed. In response to this, approximately 35 manufacturers were authorized to produce the award between 1939 and 1945. Many of these manufacturers created their own version of the badge by artistically designing their own version of the eagles, wreath’s, and tanks on the badge. The design of one Panzer badge may not be identical to the next one encountered. This makes the collecting of the different manufacturers and their variants its own niche in the hobby.
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