Panzer Assault Badge in Silver

Product Description: A fine and well-preserved example of the Panzer Assault Badge in Silver (Panzerkampfabzeichen in Silber), awarded to armoured troops of the Wehrmacht for participation in three or more combat engagements. This variant features the distinctive scooped-out flatback reverse, a characteristic associated with a small number of unidentified wartime manufacturers and highly regarded by collectors for its unusual construction.

Struck in zinc, the badge retains approximately 40% of its original silver finish, with natural age-related wear primarily to the high points of the obverse. The detailing remains sharp, particularly to the depiction of the Panzer IV tank and surrounding oak leaf wreath. The reverse is neatly hollowed, with a fully functional pin, hinge, and catch assembly,original and undamaged.

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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