Silver Infantry Assault Badge by S&L – Nice!

Product Description: This Silver Infantry Assault Badge is a really nice example made by the firm of Steinhauer & Lück, a scarce and desirable variant. It is struck from fine zinc. The obverse retains original silver finish, though this is a bit thin, revealing the gray color of the zinc here and there. The surfaces are clean and smooth, and all of the original fine detail is intact, with no evident wear. The reverse of this attractive Silver Infantry Assault Badge is flat, and unmarked, though the hardware setup leaves no doubt this is an S&L product. The barrel hinge is soldered within a raised outline, and the flat wire “C” catch is affixed with a textbook plate. The round wire pin functions with no issues, and there is no sign of any repair.The condition rates as excellent. Silver Infantry Assault Badges by this maker are not common in any condition; this one is a particularly appealing piece.

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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