Panzer Assault Badge in Bronze

Product Description: This Panzer Assault Badge in Bronze is struck from fine zinc. The obverse retains much of the original bronze lacquer finish, with wear to the high points that exposes the light gray color of the base metal. The contrast between the worn high points and the original dark bronze in the recesses gives this badge an attractive look. All of the original detail remains present on the obverse, which is very clean. The reverse of this nice Panzer Assault Badge is flat and smooth, with nearly all of the original bronze finish, and a few very minor surface scratches. There is no manufacturer marking, but this badge variant is known to have been produced by the firm of Frank & Reif in Stuttgart. The hardware setup, with sheet metal hinge and round wire pin and catch, also retains the original finish, and is functional and unrepaired. The condition of this desirable badge rates as excellent.

Historical Description: The Panzer Assault Badge was instituted on December 20^th, 1939.    It was awarded in the silver grade to Panzer crewman who met the combat requirements. On June 1^st, 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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