Condition: Mint
Maker: Hermann Aurich
Base Material: Zinc
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Product Description: This is a superb, mint-condition example of a highly desirable Panzer Assault Badge in Silver, produced by the firm of Hermann Aurich, Dresden. Crafted from fine zinc alloy, this badge is remarkable in that it retains 100% of its original silver finish, an exceptional feature as most zinc-based awards experience heavy finish loss over time.
The obverse of the badge displays crisp detailing, with no evident wear, highlighting the aggressive Panzer design framed by an oak leaf wreath. The reverse is maker-marked near the catch with the stylized “HA” logo of Hermann Aurich, a clear indicator of authenticity. The hardware is textbook for this maker, featuring a hinge affixed via a crimped-in round plate, a signature construction method unique to Aurich. The pin, hinge, and catch assembly remain fully intact and functional, with no signs of repair.
Adding to its rarity and desirability, this badge is accompanied by its original tissue wrapping and original factory-issued paper box. The box is a period cardboard container, simple yet historically significant, designed to protect and store the award when first issued. It remains in excellent condition, showing only minor handling wear consistent with age.
This Panzer Assault Badge in Silver by Hermann Aurich is an exceptional, investment-grade piece, complete with its original wartime packaging, making it a must-have for serious collectors of German combat awards.
Condition: Mint – A truly outstanding and complete set!
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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